AMID the drama of the invasion of Iraq, professional acquaintance turned to love for a US soldier and a Bulgarian journalist, and the end of the war has seen them sound wedding bells.

Television reporter Margarita Vasseva of bTV married Staff-Sergeant Jason Smith, media liaison officer for the US forces that were based at Sarafovo, on May 14.

Vasseva, 26, was sent against her will to report from the 409th Air Expeditionary Group that was temporarily based in Sarafovo to provide refuelling for coalition aircraft. She told The Echo she had no idea about the aircraft and could not differentiate between the KC-10 Extender aircraft, deployed here from their base in New Jersey, and a civil aircraft.

"I was so upset and cried during the whole trip to Sarafovo," she said, adding that it took her three days to start to like the experience there.

"When I got a call from the television station saying that I could be replaced and someone else would be sent, I did not want to leave," she said.

At the outset, she had been given Smith's mobile phone number, but did not want to call him. "How could I possibly imagine that this would be my future husband?" she said.

At present Vasseva-Smith is getting ready for her new life in Charleston, US, Smith's home, where his family is eagerly waiting to meet her.

Smith has been re-deployed to Kyrgyzstan for some time. He said he was very busy and was solely responsible for putting together a weekly newspaper for Ganci Air Base. They keep contact through the internet and via the two weekly telephone calls Smith is allowed to make.