(January 26, 2007)--The US military is confirming an Associated Press report on the deaths of four abducted American soldiers in Iraq.

They were shot after a sophisticated sneak attack last week in the holy city of Karbala.

Two of the four were handcuffed together in the back seat of an SUV.

Their bodies were found in a neighboring province, far from the compound where they were captured.

US command reported at the time that five soldiers were killed while "repelling the attack."

Nine to 12 militants posing as an American security team traveled in black GMC Suburban vehicles, which is the type used by US government convoys as they attacked the Provincial Joint Coordination Center in Karbala, convincing forces at Iraqi checkpoints to allow them passage, the military said.

They had American weapons, wore new US military combat fatigues and spoke English.

They captured the four soldiers and then killed them, the military said.

A fifth soldier was killed in the attack and three others were injured.

"The precision of the attack, the equipment used and the possible use of explosives to destroy the military vehicles in the compound suggests that the attack was well rehearsed prior to execution," said Army Lt. Col. Scott Bleichwehl, spokesman for Multinational Division Baghdad.

"The attackers went straight to where Americans were located in the provincial government facility, bypassing the Iraqi police in the compound."

The four soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, from Fort Richardson, Alaska.

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