SPACE WIRE
Three US soldiers killed in accidents: Centcom
BAGHDAD (AFP) Apr 15, 2003
Three American soldiers died and three more were injured in apparent accidental blasts in the last 24 hours, the US Central Command (Centcom) said Tuesday.

Two died when a grenade exploded as they worked on a vehicle south of Baghdad, a Baghdad datelined statement said.

"The incident was not a result of hostile fire," Centcom added.

The two members of the Fifth Corps were killed in "an apparent accidental detonation of a grenade while they were performing maintenance on a vehicle in a checkpoint south of Baghdad," at 1200 GMT on Monday, a statement said.

And from Camp Virginia in Kuwait, the Central Command said another Fifth Corps soldier had been killed and another wounded Monday morning in "an apparent accidental weapons discharge incident in the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport."

"The soldiers have been evacuated to a military medical treatment facility in the Iraqi area of operations. The wounded soldiers condition is currently unknown," it said.

Investigations were underway into both incidents, while the names of the dead were being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.

SPACE.WIRE