Philippines bans sending workers to Iraq, five American soldiers killed

Number of American soldiers killed yesterday in Iraq increased to five and another Iraqi from the national guard was killed as a result of the intensive missile shelling carried out by gunmen and targeted the headquarters of the Iraqi national guards forces, resulted in destroying the building yesterday.

One American military source said that the bombardment also resulted in wounding 20 American soldiers and 4 Iraqis, all were part of violent clashes that took place in the streets of Sameraa city to the north of Baghdad. The source added that some of the shelling took place in civil area and this resulted in casualties.

Medical sources said that three civilians were killed and other four gunmen were who were hiding inside one building when they were bombarded by one American army helicopter.

Meantime, President of the Philippines Gloria Oryo issued a decision to halt sending workers to Iraq after one Iraqi group announced it holds a Philippine worker, who was working with a Saudi company working with the American forces and threatened to kill him if the Philippines will not respond to its demands.

The spokesman for the Philippines presidency, who read the statement, did not refer to any decision concerning sending the Philippine forces in Iraq which is composed of 50 soldiers. He added that the government was due to hold a meeting on Thursday to decide its answer to the demands of the armed groups.