Monday, May 11, 2009

U.S. soldier kills 5 at US base in Baghdad-US


Mon May 11, 2009 10:39am EDT


(Adds U.S. identity for shooter)

BAGHDAD, May 11 (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier opened fire on fellow troops at one of the main U.S. bases in Baghdad on Monday, killing five, the U.S. military said.

"The shooter is a U.S. soldier and he is in custody," said Marine Corps Lieutenant Tom Garnett, a U.S. military spokesman.

A U.S. military statement said the shooting took place around 2 p.m. local time at the sprawling base, Camp Liberty, located next to Baghdad airport.

Earlier this month, two U.S. soldiers were killed by a man wearing an Iraqi Army uniform at an Iraqi military training centre in northern Iraq.

Violence has dropped sharply in Iraq, but insurgent attacks continue, and a rash of major bombings has raised questions about security less than two months before U.S. forces are due to withdraw combat troops from urban bases.

Thirteen U.S. soldiers were killed in combat in April, including five who were killed in a single attack in the restive northern city of Mosul. (Additional reporting by David Morgan in Washington; editing by Ralph Boulton)