Mortar attack kills US soldier in Iraq

A mortar attack on a US base in Iraq killed an American soldier yesterday, hours after President George W. Bush made a secret visit to Baghdad to spend Thanksgiving with US troops fighting to end a guerilla war.

A military spokeswoman said four mortar bombs landed inside the headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division in the northern city of Mosul, one killing the soldier, another wounding an Iraqi working in the compound and two others falling harmlessly.

Since Mr Bush declared major combat over on May 1, 185 US soldiers have been killed in action in Iraq. Separately, US Central Command said soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division based west of Baghdad had shot a seven-year-old child in the foot after he pointed an AK-47 at approaching US troops.

In a statement, Centcom said the child was being treated at a Baghdad hospital and the incident was under investigation.

During his lightning trip on Thursday, Mr Bush thanked American soldiers for "sacrificing for our freedom and our peace".

"We did not charge hundreds of miles through the heart of Iraq, pay a bitter cost of casualties, defeat a ruthless dictator and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins," he said to a standing ovation at the heavily fortified Baghdad International Airport.

He assured the Iraqi Governing Council Washington would stay the course in Iraq while urging them to work harder to prepare for next year's handover of sovereignty.

In an elaborate plan to ensure his security, Mr Bush slipped away from his Texas ranch on Wednesday night, arrived in Iraq on Thursday and spent two and a half hours with the troops, becoming the first US president to visit the country.

He arrived back in the United States early yesterday morning.

On the heels of Mr Bush's visit, Senator Hillary Clinton, wife of former President Bill Clinton, visited Baghdad yesterday.

In between meetings with US commanders, civilian officials and senior Iraqis, Ms Clinton said she hoped for a wider international role in administering post-war Iraq.

"I'm a big believer that we ought to internationalise this, but it will take a big change in our administration's thinking," said Ms Clinton, who has ruled out a 2004 presidential bid.