US troops stop grenade attack by child

US troops from the 2nd Infantry Division foiled an attempt to coerce a child
into accepting a hand grenade in the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi, the US
command said.

The troops were on patrol when they saw a blue sedan with three military-aged
males pull up near their position.

The driver left the vehicle and approached a child, who took a grenade from
the adult, a US statement said.

The Americans fired a warning shot and the child dropped the grenade and ran
away. The adult returned fire with a pistol, jumped into his vehicle and tried
to escape.

US troops disabled the vehicle, killing one and wounding two, the statement
said.

The grenade never exploded and the child disappeared, the statement added.

"The incident demonstrates the ruthless disregard that the insurgency has for
the citizens of Iraq," said Marine Major Phil Bragg, a spokesman for the 1st
Marine Division.

Last week, Iraqi officials accused insurgents of using a retarded man to
carry out one of the eight suicide bombings in Baghdad during the January 30
elections.