New Zealand soldier killed in Kuwait

9.35 am UPDATE

WASHINGTON - At least five people, including one New Zealander, were killed and 10 were injured this morning when a US F-18 fighter dropped a bomb at a training range in northwest Kuwait.

Major John McNutt, 27, of the New Zealand Army, died while observing a live firing exercise. The observation post he was in was accidentally hit by a bomb dropped from an aircraft involved in the exercise.

He died instantly.

Major McNutt was an SAS officer deployed to Kuwait 18 months ago as a staff officer at coalition joint task force headquarters. He had previously served with the Christchurch-based 2/1 Battalion.

Pentagon officials, who asked not to be identified, said four of the dead were US military personnel, but initial details of the accident were sketchy.

They said the jet, based on the US aircraft carrier Harry Truman in the Gulf, dropped at least one bomb that struck observers on the ground.

The accident happened about 6.30 this morning (NZ time) near the Al Udairi firing range 50 km south of the Iraqi border.

"We lost some servicemen today in a training accident in Kuwait," President George W. Bush said in a speech during an appearance in Panama City, Florida. He asked the crowd for a moment of silence for the casualties.