US news anchor BOB WOODRUFF and cameraman DOUG VOGT have been critically wounded in a central Iraq bombing, the US military said today (29JAN06).

The incident, which occurred just north of Iraqi capital Baghdad in the area of Taji, left the ABC star and his key crew member hospitalised and requiring surgery - but doctors are now describing their condition as "stable".

Early reports suggest an improvised explosive device (IED) went off, cutting through Woodruff and 46-year-old Vogt's standard issue body armour.

An army spokesman says, "The incident occurred near Taji and the two are now in hospital."

ABC News president DAVID WESTIN says, "We have learned from the US military and from our producer on the scene that Bob and Doug are out of surgery and are both in stable condition.

"We take this as good news, but the next few days will be critical. The military plans to evacuate them to their medical facilities in Landstuhl (Germany), probably overnight tonight."