BAGHDAD, (Reuters):

The United States military reported the deaths of five more soldiers yesterday, bringing the U.S. death toll closer to 3,000, as Defense Secretary Robert Gates ended a two-day visit aimed at finding a new strategy for Iraq.

Four U.S. servicemen were killed in action on Thursday in the restive Anbar province, heartland of the unrelenting Sunni insurgency against U.S. forces and the Iraqi government and the most dangerous place in Iraq for American soldiers.

A fifth was killed and another wounded west of Baghdad on Friday when their patrol came under machinegun and mortar fire.

At least 71 U.S. soldiers have died so far this month.

Withdrawal of troops

The deaths brought the total U.S. death toll in Iraq to 2,960, creeping closer to the 3,000 mark and adding more pressure on U.S. President George W. Bush to find a strategy that will allow the eventual withdrawal of 135,000 U.S. troops.

Bush has said he will announce a new strategy in January after listening to the advice of his military commanders, State Department officials, Iraqi leaders and Gates, who said he would report back to the president this weekend.

Gates would not say whether he will recommend a short-term troop surge, one of the options Bush has said he is considering. Military commanders have raised doubts about increasing troop strength, saying it will only delay a handover to Iraqis.

Strategy

Gates said whatever strategy was decided, the Shi'ite-led Iraqi government must take the lead in curbing sectarian violence between minority Sunnis and majority Shi'ites that has killed thousands of Iraqis, many in the Iraqi capital.

"The situation in Baghdad is obviously difficult. Clearly success will only be achieved by a joint effort with Iraqis taking the lead," he told reporters.

"They do have some concrete plans in mind, and putting flesh on those bones is exactly what General Casey and his team and the Iraqis will be doing in the days ahead," he said, referring to the U.S. commander in Iraq, General George Casey.