Iraqi police killed in US friendly fire mistake
US troops appear to have shot dead eight Iraqi security personnel and wounded five others in a terrible friendly fire incident.
Police and witnesses reported that US soldiers opened fire on Iraqi police chasing a car carrying gunmen as it passed through an American checkpoint near the town of Fallujah.
Seven police and 10 members of the auxiliary Facilities Protection Services personnel from the town were reportedly chasing a white BMW without licence plates after gunmen in the vehicle opened fire on the governorate headquarters in the centre of Fallujah.
The northern Iraqi town has seen heavy resistance to US occupation and, if confirmed, the incident would be the second friendly-fire case in Fallujah in two days.
On Wednesday, US troops shot dead one Iraqi policeman and seriously wounded another after a bomb struck their convoy on the outskirts of the town.
American troops killed 16 Fallujah residents protesting against occupation in April.
Large numbers of local residents have now gathered outside both the governorate and police headquarters to protest over the incident.
The flashpoint town of Fallujah lies approximately 50 kilometres (30 miles) to the west of Baghdad.
The US military has not yet commented on the incident and is investigating reports.
