Monday 31 January 2005, 23:59 Makka Time, 20:59 GMT
According to the US military three marines were killed south of Baghdad during a gunbattle on Monday.
An official statement from the US says: "Three US marines were killed in action and two others wounded on 31 January while conducting security and stability operations in northern Babil province."
These were the first American deaths after the elections, the toll for US soldiers died in Iraq since the beginning of the war is now 1435, according to the Pentagon.
A US military base situated in the former presidential complex was attacked in Mosul with mortar shells, as leraned by Al-Jazeera.
No further details are available.
Il Romanaccio at 3:21 PM