Thursday 10 February 2005, 0:44 Makka Time, 21:44 GMT
A director in the Ministry of Culture and Housing was killed, on Wednesday evening, while coming out of his car by an unknown number of armed men.
Another three members of the KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) were ambushed and shot dead, on Wednesday evening in the Haifa street area, by the insurgents.
A Gunbattle involving Iraqi and US soldiers against a not specified number of fighters soon followed.
A US soldier was also killed on Wednesday evening when his convoy was under attack, north of Baghdad, close to the area of Balad, as reported by the US military.
The United States announced, meanwhile, that the troops employed in Iraq will soon be reducted to a smaller amount, as the Lieu. Gen. General Lance Smith, deputy commander of the US Central Command in Iraq, indicated to the press, "We should be at pre-election levels in spring."
About 13,000 to 19,000 soldiers will come back a their homes.
Il Romanaccio at 2:39 PM
