US death toll hits 1001 in Iraq

Wednesday 08 September 2004, 0:03 Makka Time, 21:03 GMT

Fourteen US soldiers and marines were killed in a 36-hour time period in Iraq, bring the death toll to 1001 since the start of the war in March 2003.

"One Task Force Baghdad soldier was killed today during an attack that took place at about 1200 (0800 GMT) in eastern Baghdad," a Centcom press released said on Tuesday.

The number of wounded in Iraq, according to Defence Department records as of 14 August, stands at 6497, but unofficial sources put that number above 6900.

August marked the highest death toll - 66 killed - for US forces since May 2003, when US-led troops engaged in fierce battles with forces loyal to Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr in southern Iraq.

In April 2003, US forces suffered 135 fatalities during the siege of Falluja.

The cost

In a televised press conference at the Pentagon shortly before the 1000-mark was reached, US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld justified the mounting US military death toll.

"Taking the offence, however, of course, has its cost, just as staying on defence has its cost," he said.

"When combined with US losses in other theatres in the global war on terror, we have lost well more than 1000 already," he said.

Rumsfeld's press conference, his first at the Pentagon since mid-July, came amid fierce fighting in Baghdad between US forces and the Mahdi Army loyal to al-Sadr that left three US troops and more than 40 Iraqis dead.

US forces were also engaged in a fierce bombardment of Falluja on Tuesday night.