Two more U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq as the year wound down Friday, putting the U.S. military death toll at 841 so far - just five short of 2004's lost lives despite political progress and dogged efforts to quash the insurgency.

In Baghdad, hundreds of cars lined up at gas stations as word spread that Iraq's largest oil refinery shut down two weeks ago because of threats of insurgent attacks. Nearly three years after the U.S.-led invasion, a fuel crisis again threatens to cripple a country with the world's third-largest proven oil reserves.

Violence went on unabated Friday, with at least 17 people killed in shootings, mortar attacks and a suicide car bombing in Baghdad. In the most serious incident, police said nine people were killed in a drive-by shooting - apparently because they were drinking alcohol in public. Two Iraqi Army captains were also gunned down in the town of Dujail, north of Baghdad, as they drove home.

A senior Sudanese diplomat said his country closed its embassy in Baghdad in an effort to win the release of six kidnapped employees - including one diplomat.

``A statement was issued by the Sudanese government to close the embassy in Iraq to win the release of our kidnapped citizens,'' Charge d'Affairs Mohamed Ahmed Khalil said. He added that the embassy's 12 employees would leave Monday.

Al-Qaeda in Iraq had threatened Thursday to kill five Sudanese today unless the country removed its diplomatic mission from Iraq.

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry reported on Dec. 24 that six of its embassy employees were kidnapped - including the mission's second secretary, Abdel Moneam Mohammad Tom. It was not clear if the al-Qaeda statement was referring to the same group.

The two new deaths of American military personnel were announced Friday by the U.S. military. A bomb killed one soldier when it struck his vehicle in Baghdad on Friday, while the second soldier was shot and killed in the western city of Fallujah.

Their deaths brought the number of U.S. military members killed so far in 2005 to 841, of whom 64 died in December. A total of 846 troops died in 2004 and 485 in 2003. The worst month in 2005 was January with 106 fatalities, followed by November with 96 and August with 85.

In Beiji, some 155 miles north of Baghdad and near Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, the deteriorating security situation led authorities to shut down Iraq's largest oil refinery Dec. 18, former oil minister Ibrahim Bahr al-Uloum said.

Al-Uloum said the facility ``is considered one of the vital refineries in Iraq'' and produces about 2 million gallons of gas a day.

As word of the shutdown spread through the country, abut 1,000 vehicles waited at one of Baghdad's biggest gas stations, known as the Jindi al-Majhoul, or Unknown Soldier station.

Ahmed Khalaf, 33, said he left his home at dawn and was still in line at noon. He expected to wait a few more hours before getting fuel.

``After the rise in gas prices, now we have a gas shortage,'' he said. ``I left my work early, and I don't think I will have the opportunity to return to work today because of this long line. Dark will come soon and I cannot work at night.''

The oil crisis cost one job, that of al-Uloum, the oil minister, who was given a 30-day vacation Wednesday and replaced with Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi. Al-Uloum opposed a decision to raise prices for fuel and cooking oil as much as ninefold.

Iraq's proven oil reserves, estimated at about 110 billion barrels, are the world's third largest after those of Saudi Arabia and Canada.

Analysts have predicted that Iraq's oil production will average about 1.8 million barrels per day this year, about 10 percent less than 2004 levels of about 2 million barrels - and just over half the 1990 level. One reason is frequent insurgent attacks on pipelines and refineries.

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Fuel shortages, darkness greet Iraqis in 2006
By DOUG SMITH and BORZOU DARAGAHI
The Eagle

Much of Iraq ushered in the new year under a near blackout Sunday as a week-old power crunch worsened across huge sections of northern and central Iraq. Baghdad's already sporadic electrical power was cut to about an hour Saturday, causing a legion of private generators to blare almost continuously and dampening the spirits of millions of Iraqis preparing for New Year's Eve, traditionally a joyous time of fireworks, family gatherings and public outings.

The power outages added to the frustration building over last week's steep increase in gasoline prices. Baghdad residents waited as long as three hours in gas lines Saturday despite the higher prices. A national fuel shortage and fears of further cuts in gas subsidies apparently prompted the rush to fill up.

As is customary, Baghdad residents flocked to outdoor markets Saturday, stocking up on gifts and party supplies. But with temperatures in the 40s, they braced for a night without heat or light.

The causes of the power crisis were disputed. While central government officials blamed the worsening outages on foul weather in the southern ports, local power officials said strikes and threats of violence against truckers had shut down the giant refinery and generation plant at Baiji, 130 miles north of Baghdad, the capital.

As the government at-tempted to gain control of the energy crisis, a rash of killings marred the last day of the year. Attacks - including a mass murder south of Baghdad with sectarian overtones - left at least 24 dead.

Unknown gunmen raided a house near Iskandariyah, 30 miles south of Baghdad, Saturday afternoon, killing five members of a Sunni Arab family, Iraqi authorities said. The killings echoed an even deadlier assault on a Shiite family Wednesday night in nearby Latifiya. Eyewitnesses said gunmen stormed the home and killed about a dozen members of the family.

In Khalis, 40 miles north of Baghdad, a bomb exploded about 10 a.m. Saturday, killing five people. Police said the attack appeared to target the local headquarters of the Iraqi Islamic Party, one of the main Sunni political groups. Insurgents opposed to the December election have called for attacks on Sunnis who participated.

Also Saturday, a U.S. soldier died from wounds inflicted by a mortar attack in Baghdad, the military said. That put the American military death toll for the year at 842 - four short of 2004's total.