BAGHDAD, July 6 (Xinhua) -- A United States soldier died of his wounds on Sunday after being shot at close range while waiting to buy a soft drink in Baghdad, U.S. military said.

　　The soldier, who was from the First Armored Division, died at a field hospital where he had been taken, U.S. Central Command said.

　　The soldier was shot at about 12:30 p.m. (0830 GMT) at Baghdad University in the centre of the capital, a U.S. military spokesman said earlier.

　　The soldier was evacuated to a military hospital and was in critical condition, he said.

　　U.S.-led coalition forces have been under repeated attacks in recent weeks by what U.S. senior military officials believe to be diehard loyalists of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

　　Nearly 30 U.S. soldiers have been killed in hostile fire in Iraq since U.S. President George W. Bush declared the major fighting in the country over on May 1, according to U.S. military tally. End