almotamar.net VOA News - The U.S. military says 3,200 American troops from the 82nd Airborne Division have arrived in Baghdad as the first part of a military buildup to help Iraqi security forces fight sectarian violence.

The troops are to be fully operational by February first. They are the first of about 17,000 reinforcements to be sent to Baghdad as part of President Bush's controversial strategy to stabilize the city.

Violence is continuing in the capital. Police say two bomb blasts in Baghdad have killed at least seven people and wounded about 20.

The U.S. military says four more American soldiers and a Marine were killed on Saturday in Anbar province, west of the capital.

Saturday was one of the deadliest days for U.S. forces since 2003.

Twelve American troops died when their helicopter crashed northeast of Baghdad.

Five American soldiers were killed in the Shi'ite holy city Karbala as militia fighters attacked a government building.

Iraqi officials said Sunday that the attackers were dressed in U.S. and Iraqi military uniforms and drove up to the building in black sports utility vehicles like those used by the Americans.

A U.S. spokesman (Brigadier General Vincent Brooks) says the attack occurred as American and Iraqi military officials were meeting to discuss security arrangements for pilgrims arriving in Karbala for a Shi'ite festival Ashura.