Baghdad, OCT 24, SPA -- US and Iraqi troops continued a joint searchTuesday for a US soldier who has gone missing in Baghdad, DPA REPORTED. A statement Monday said US and Iraqi forces "immediately respondedto attempt to locate the soldier, the search is ongoing," but withoutgiving further details. It remained unclear whether the soldier had been kidnapped or wasmissing for other reasons. Nine US soldiers died in fighting over the weekend across Iraq,bringing the death toll in October to 87 - higher than any othermonth in 2006. A bodyguard and five children were injured Tuesday when anexplosive device targeting a police patrol detonated near a policestation in Kirkuk, 250 kilometres north of Baghdad, police sourcessaid.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/397937