The other 13 were killed in accidents or, in the case of two, in a grenade attack in a camp in Kuwait by another US soldier who has been charged with murder.

The Pentagon also acknowledged Iraqi forces were holding seven prisoners of war.

Sixteen US troops are missing, a category which often means it has not been determined whether they have been killed or taken prisoner.

The Pentagon's latest casualty figure includes the pilot of an F/A-18 Hornet jet shot down Wednesday over Iraq who may have been hit by a US patriot missile, the US official said.

A total of 154 US servicemen are listed as wounded.

US forces are holding some 6,000 Iraqis prisoner, the official said.

SPACE.WIRE