BAGHDAD, June 27: A US soldier was killed in an ambush and another was shot in the face in Iraq on Friday in the latest attacks against coalition troops, while three Iraqis were arrested in connection with the disappearance of two other US soldiers.

In the United States, US President George W. Bush was under political fire over two administration claims used as justification for the war, amid increasing concern over the management of the occupation of Iraq.

US Central Command (Centcom) said the dead soldier, attached to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, was shot dead in an ambush while investigating a car theft near Kufah.

The death brings to 58 the number of US troops killed since President Bush declared the war in Iraq effectively over on May 1, according to an AFP count compiled from various US military statements.

Meanwhile, a US military spokesman said three Iraqis were detained after the apparent kidnapping of two US soldiers.

US Army Major Robert Gwinner told AFP that US military intelligence believed Fedayeen militia were using the soldiers’ Humvee light-armoured vehicle “to get close to Americans with the vehicle to probably conduct another terrorist attack against them.”—AFP