US forces kill two in Baghdad

US forces killed two gunmen after a patrol came under fire from a mosque in a Shia neighbourhood of Baghdad today, according …

US forces killed two gunmen after a patrol came under fire from a mosque in a Shia neighbourhood of Baghdad today, according to the US military.

"A patrol performing routine security operations around the area took small arms fire from the mosque and requested air support . . . to come and assist them," a US military spokesman said.

The incident, which lasted for about 90 minutes, took place in the southwestern Shia neighbourhood of al-Bayaa before weekly Friday noon prayers, a US military spokesman said.

A hospital source said six people were wounded in the attack, and local media said a US helicopter had attacked a mosque.