Three US soldiers killed in Iraq - military

BAGHDAD, Sep 18 (Reuters) An explosion killed three US soldiers in Iraq's Diyala province today, the military said.

In a statement, the military said the blast went off near their patrol. Three other soldiers were wounded, it said.

The statement gave no details on the type of explosion, but many soldiers are killed by roadside bombs in Iraq.

Diyala, north of Baghdad, has been a sanctuary for gunmen from al Qaeda in Iraq, although US commanders say that recent offensives in the province have helped quell the influence of the militant group.

REUTERS SR BD2358