US soldier missing in Baghdad - military

BAGHDAD, Oct 23 (Reuters) A US soldier was reported missing in Baghdad today, the military said.

The soldier, part of a multi-national division in the Iraqi capital, went missing at about 7:30 p.m. local time, the US military said in a statement.

''Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces immediately responded to attempt to locate the soldier, the search is ongoing,'' the statement said.

The US military said last week it was reviewing strategy in Baghdad, where US reinforcements have failed to halt spiralling violence, and expressed grave concern about mounting troop deaths.

US Maj. Gen. William Caldwell has said the number of attacs targeting security forces in Baghdad had risen since US troops launched a crackdown designed to end sectarian violence killing dozens of people every day.

October looks set to become the deadliest month for US troops in Iraq this year.

REUTERS PDS RAI0341