The latest bloodshed erupted as foreign ministers from countries neighbouring Iraq were meeting in Cairo to discuss the new government's demands for help in restoring security on the borders of the ravaged nation.

Fierce fighting flared overnight between US soldiers and insurgents in Samarra, a restive town north of Baghdad that has been the scene of frequent clashes during the 15-month revolt begun during the US-led occupation.

Samarra's main hospital said it received five bodies and another eight wounded people from the fighting, which was triggered when a US military post on the northern edge of the city came under attack.

The US soldiers called in air support as they chased down rebels holed up in houses and a mosque nearby.

One US soldier was also killed and six injured when their patrol hit a roadside bomb shortly after midnight on a road in Duluiyah, southeast of Samarra, a US military spokesman said.

The latest casualty brings to 662 the number of US troops killed in action in Iraq since the start of the US-led war in March 2003 and based on Pentagon figures.

US Central Command reported Tuesday two US soldiers and two marines killed in the restive western Anbar province.

Police also said the mutilated body of an Iraqi scientist and an unidentified corpse were found in the city in the early hours of Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the freed Filipino hostage was on his way out of Baghdad to unite with his anxious family after a two-week drama that has gripped his compatriots and frayed Manila's relationship with Washington.

Angelo de la Cruz, who was released freed after his government bowed to the kidnappers' demands and pulled its military contingent out of Iraq, is flying first to Abu Dhabi for medical checks before flying on to the Philippines.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has strongly defended her decision and is expected to personally receive De la Cruz when he arrives in Manila.

Although Washington weclomed his release of de la Cruz, it reiterated its belief that Manila's decision to give in to the kidnappers' demands was wrong.

"It's good to see that he's safe," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said. "Our policy on how this came about has certainly not changed."