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Possible electrocutions jump to 18

The number of U.S. troops and contractors electrocuted in Iraq is higher than previously reported, and now stands at 18, a senator said Monday.

Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., issued a statement with the revised number after a briefing by the Pentagon’s inspector general’s office. The IG’s office has been investigating the death of a Green Beret from Pittsburgh, Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, who was electrocuted in January while showering in his barracks in Iraq.

Gary Comerford, a spokesman for the Pentagon’s IG, confirmed the department is reviewing investigations conducted by the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division and Criminal Investigation Command of 18 possible deaths.

Several of those cases have been deemed accidents because they involved situations such as coming into contact with power lines. Others resulted from situations where individuals were repairing air-conditioning units, providing generator maintenance or using a shower, according to the IG.

The IG’s office is also examining the military’s response in fixing the problem after the incidents.

Of those electrocuted, 16 were U.S. military personnel and two others were U.S. contractors, Casey’s office said. The military has previously put the tally at slightly lower than 18.

Casey also said as part of the investigation he was told the IG’s office is subpoenaing Houston-based military contractor KBR Inc., which holds a multibillion-dollar contract to provide basic services at facilities in Iraq for U.S. soldiers.

In an e-mailed statement on Monday, KBR spokeswoman Heather Browne said the Houston-based company is fully cooperating. The company has denied a link between its work and the deaths.

In July, Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, ordered a comprehensive electrical safety review of facilities in Iraq.

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Associated Press Writer Donna Borak contributed to this report.