Three American soldiers killed in Iraq, group claims responsibility for downing British plane

The "Green squad", one of the groups of "the 1920s revolution", the military wing of the National Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the operation of downing the British military plane to the north west of Iraq on Sunday.

A video tape broadcast by al-Jazeera TV showed a missile being fired and a fire resulting from the plane explosion and burning.

The tape also showed the remains of the plane which scattered on a large area. In a statement the group said that more than 40 persons including one officer were killed in the attack.

The British ministry of defense announced that a British transport plane C-130 for the Royal Air force fell to the north west of Baghdad and this resulted in killing at least 10 military men who were on its board. The ministry indicated that no information was available on the reasons behind the explosion.

In another development, the American army announced the killing of three American mariners and the injuring of other 2 during a security operation on Monday to the north of Irbil. No details were given.