Roadside bomb kills 3 US soldiers in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Dec 17 (Reuters) A roadside bomb killed three US soldiers and wounded one north of Baghdad yesterday, the US military said today in a statement.

''The combat patrol was conducting a route clearance mission in order to free the roads of any possible dangers so that a follow-on unit could move through the area without harm.

''As they conducted their mission, a roadside bomb exploded near one of their vehicles, killing three and wounding a fourth soldier,'' the statement said.

REUTERS AKJ VV1232