US jets destroy truck bomb in west Iraq-military

BAGHDAD, Apr 28 (Reuters) US fighter jets destroyed a truck rigged with explosives near the volatile city of Falluja in western Iraq, a US military statement said today.

The truck was found late on Friday after information was received from a suspected militant detained by US Marines. It contained eight 55-gallon barrels wrapped with wires and explosives. The contents of the barrels were unknown.

Marines set up a security cordon around the truck, east of the town of Garma, and evacuated nearby citizens. Jets then fired precision guided missiles and destroyed the truck.

The military said the incident caused minor damange to nearby buildings. No civilians or US forces were hurt.

There has been a spate of truck bombs using deadly chlorine gas in recent months, mainly in western Anbar province. Anbar is a stronghold of the Sunni Arab insurgency and a haven for al Qaeda in Iraq.

REUTERS SM BD1609