Larry Di Rita, the acting chief Pentagon spokesman, would not say how the Syrians were injured or whether US troops crossed into Syrian territory during the attack on the convoy in western Iraq.

He said the five were taken into US custody to be treated for various types of injuries. Three were taken to Baghdad and the other two were treated by a US military unit in the area, he told reporters.

"All five are now together, have been treated, are ambulatory and are awaiting their return," he said.

US embassy officials in Damascus were in touch with the Syrian government to work out the details of their return, he said.

"It is our intention that they would go back to Syria as soon as all that could be worked out," he said.

Di Rita said an unidentified Iraqi was killed in the raid, which was launched early June 18 because of intelligence suggesting that the convoy was carrying senior members of the deposed Baathist regime.

"They've only been able to confirm one individual was killed, but that doesn't mean that only one individual was killed," he said.

He would provide no other information on the raid.

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