BAGHDAD, March 13: A roadside bomb killed two US soldiers newly arrived in Iraq and seriously wounded several others as they were patrolling Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit on Saturday.

And an explosion in Baghdad killed an Iraqi shopkeeper related to a member of the country's US-appointed Governing Council.

The Tikrit blast raised to 385 the number of US soldiers killed in action since the invasion of Iraq was launched almost a year ago, as guerillas continue to take their toll of occupation forces.

Those killed were from the 1st Infantry Division and had only recently arrived in the country to replace the 4th Infantry Division, leaving Iraq after nearly a year's service.

Two other US soldiers died in a similar attack west of Baghdad on Thursday.-AFP