BAGHDAD, May 27: Guerillas killed two US soldiers on Thursday night when they shot down their chopper near a militant stronghold. In Baghdad, the Iraqi government sealed off the capital on Friday in a bid to quell mounting attacks.

On the political front, the president of the parliamentary committee due to draw up Iraq’s new constitution said the body would begin work on the vital document on Saturday. The constitution is due to be drafted by Aug 15.

The dead US soldiers were flying in one of two helicopters that came under gunfire and crashed as they were carrying out a support mission near Baquba. The second chopper managed to land at a US air base after sustaining damage, the US military said, with troops securing the area around the crash site.

US and Iraqi forces swiftly began raids in the area, said an Iraqi army colonel.

“American and Iraqi forces started carrying out raids at 4am on houses and farms in Bahriz, where the helicopter came down and we arrested 15 suspects in this area,” said Col Dhia Ismael.

“They seized weapons caches, IEDs (improvised explosive devices) ready for use and the operation is ongoing.”

BAGHDAD SEALED OFF: With car bombs exploding almost daily in the capital, the government started a vast operation to seal off Baghdad using tens of thousands of Iraqi police and soldiers and setting up hundreds of extra checkpoints.