U.S. soldier killed in bomb attack in Baghdad

Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

BAGHDAD, June 26 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. soldier has been killed by a sophisticated armored-piercing bomb attack in eastern Baghdad, the U.S. military said on Thursday.

The attack took place at about 09:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) on Wednesday in eastern part of the capital, a military statement said without providing further details about the incident.

The sophisticated bomb, or explosively-formed projectile (EFP) first developed during World War II, is a special type of shaped charge designed to penetrate armor effectively.

U.S. officials frequently accused Iran of providing Shiite militia in Iraq with weapons, including the EFP. Iran denies the accusations.

The latest death brings the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion to about 4,110, according to media count based on Pentagon figures.