The death of a Texan soldier in Baghdad brings the total number of US troops killed in Iraq to 3,000, independent groups tracking casualties have said.
The US Defence department confirmed that the soldier was killed by small arms fire in the capital last week.
The announcement came on the final day of 2006 and as the US military reached the end of the deadliest month for its troops in Iraq for two years.
The US president is considering the future strategy for troops in Iraq.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6221805.stm
