Nine U.S. Troops Are Killed in Latest Preelection Violence

Seven U.S. soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb Thursday in northwestern Baghdad and two Marines died on patrol in Al Anbar province, in the deadliest day for Americans since a December suicide bombing killed 18 at Forward Operating Base Marez outside Mosul.

The seven soldiers from Task Force Baghdad died when their Bradley fighting vehicle was struck, military officials said. All on board were killed.

It was one of the highest death tolls to date caused by a roadside bomb. Earlier this week, three soldiers in Baghdad were killed and two were wounded in a similar attack.

Thursday’s casualties raise questions about whether insurgents are using more sophisticated or larger explosive devices.

The Marines, citing safety concerns, released no details about the deaths of two members of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force except to say the slain troops were “conducting security and stability operations.”

The deaths pushed U.S. fatalities to almost 1,350 since the war began in March 2003.

Thursday’s attacks came amid surging preelection violence that had already killed more than 90 people this week, most of them Iraqis.

Police said the bodies of 18 young Iraqi Shiite Muslims killed while seeking work at a U.S. base in December were found Thursday in a field near Mosul, Associated Press reported.

Even though family members were burying bodies Thursday, law enforcement officials in Mosul raised questions about the report. A senior official in the governor’s office denied that any attack had taken place.

Thursday’s violence came hours after the commander of multinational forces in Iraq said U.S. and Iraqi forces were working hard to improve security in some areas considered too volatile for credible elections to be held Jan. 30, as planned.

U.S. troops assisted by about 9,000 Iraqi troops are racing to prepare the country for the scheduled vote, Lt. Gen. Thomas F. Metz said. He said they would move aggressively in the next three weeks to restore and maintain peace in restive locations, including parts of Baghdad, Mosul, Samarra and Al Anbar province, which contains the rebellious Sunni Muslim cities of Fallouja and Ramadi.

The commander said a delay in the election, which some Iraqis leaders want, would only lead to further violence.

“From a military point of view, a delay in the election just gives the thugs and terrorists more time to continue their intimidation,” he told reporters during a briefing in Baghdad. “There’s a greater chance of civil war with a delay than without one.”

Though Iraqi forces are expected to constitute the front lines of security on election day, teams of U.S. troops will intervene if needed, Metz said.

On Thursday, interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi announced a 30-day extension of an emergency law that gives the government special powers to control security.

Despite the preparations, Metz said, he could not assure Iraqi voters that they would be able to cast their ballots without being attacked.

“We’re going to do everything possible to create that condition for them,” he said.

“But we are fighting an enemy who cares less who he kills, when he kills and how he kills.... I just can’t guarantee that everyone will be able to go to a poll in total safety.”