Iraqi soldiers poisoned by insurgency watermelons

TIKRIT, Iraq, June 1 (Xinhuanet) -- An Iraqi soldier died and 12 others were hospitalized after they ate poisonous watermelon near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, a statement said Wednesday.

"An unknown driver of a truck full of watermelon gave late Tuesday poisonous watermelon to Iraqi soldiers on several checkpoints spread along the road from north of Sharqat to Hamam al-Alil town, near the northern Iraq city of Mosul," US-Iraqi liaison office in Tikrit said in the statement.

"A soldier died and 12 others were evacuated to Mosul Hospital,"the statement said.

Iraqi authorities are investigating the incident, it added.

Insurgents have mounted attacks on the US-trained Iraqi army and the fledgling security forces since a new government was sworn in late April and killed more than 700 people.

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