McDonall died of his wounds Tuesday

BAGHDAD, March 17 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Four U.S. missionaries have been killed in a drive-by shooting in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the U.S. military said Tuesday, March 16.

The shooting occurred Monday evening, March 15, when gunmen opened fire with AK-47s at a car carrying the American missionaries, CNN reported.

The Southern Baptist International Mission Board identified the four as David E. McDonnall, 29, of Rowlett, Texas, Larry T. Elliott, 60, Jean Dover Elliott, 58, of Cary, N.C., and Karen Denise Watson, 38, of Bakersfield, California.

Carrie Taylor, McDonnall’s wife remains in critical condition, the Baptist board added.

McDonnall died Tuesday of his wounds after four U.S. military surgeons worked for six hours to save his life.

“Everyone in the IMB family and everyone who loves Southern Baptists' overseas workers are grieving with the family members and co-workers of these precious souls,” Mission Board President Jerry Rankin mourned the dead in a statement.

British reports revealed in December 2003 that U.S. missionaries, mainly evangelicals, are pouring into the predominantly Muslim Iraq, shrouded in secrecy and under the guise of humanitarian aid.

The Muslim World League (MWL) warned in April 2003 that some “non-Muslim organizations” were preparing to enter Iraq to start their activity under the cover of providing humanitarian aid.

German, Dutchman Killed 

Meanwhile, a German, a Dutchman and three Iraqis were shot dead south of Baghdad Tuesday.

Gunmen opened fire at their car which was traveling from Karbala to Baghdad, Rahman Mashawi, the press officer of Karbala’s police station, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The Dutch Foreign Ministry said one of those killed was a Dutch engineer. The German Foreign Ministry said the other was German, and that the two were working for a German company.

Polish troops, which lead a multi-national force in south Iraq, sealed off the region of Jarf Al-Sakhar, 45 kilometers north of Karbala, where the shooting had taken place, he added.

In another shooting Tuesday, attackers killed the sister of an Iraqi translator working for the U.S. army in Mosul and wounded her brother, Reuters news agency said.

Iraqis working as translators for the occupiers have been repeatedly targeted. 

The past week has also seen a surge in deadly attacks on U.S. soldiers -- roadside bomb blasts in and near Baghdad have killed nine since last Wednesday.

Since the start of the war to occupy Iraq almost a year ago, 389 U.S. troops have been killed in resistance attacks in Iraq -- 274 of them since Washington declared major combat over on May 1, according to a Reuters toll.