DEATH TOLL OF US TROOPS IN IRAQ APPROACHES 2.000

" The number of American soldiers killed in Iraq was climbing inexorably towards 2.000 yesterday, with the announcement of the 1,996th casualty since the invasion in 2003.

US forces suffered 15,220 wounded over the same period".

Many of the 7,159 soldiers too seriously wounded to return to duty have injuries that would have killed them in previous conflicts".