At least seven Iraqis were killed by US forces during a violent demonstration in the northern city of Mosul today.
Brigadier General Vincent Brooks at Central Command in Qatar said demonstrators fired at marines and special operations forces near a government building the Americans had occupied in the centre of the city.
"Fire was directed at the marines and special operationsforces in this complex. It was aim fire and aim fire wasreturned against some of the demonstrators, against some of the agitators climbing the wall of the compound. It was lethal fire," he told a daily news conference.
He said at least seven people were killed and a numberwounded.