Running battles between US troops and insurgents in the Iraqi flashpoint town of Falluja last night left a US Marine, an Iraqi cameraman and at least six other civilians dead.
Falluja, about 60 km west of Baghdad, is known for its fierce hostility to the US-led occupation. Insurgents fought US troops in the town for several hours, but it was unclear what sparked the violence.
Doctors at Falluja hospital said at least six civilians were killed. One said eight. Reuters Television footage showed a boy wounded in the head screaming in pain as doctors bandaged him.
"It was a bloody day in Falluja," doctor Mohammad Dahamsaid. "We have been receiving casualties in great numbers."
The US military said a Marine was also killed in the town and several wounded. The Marines have recently arrived in Falluja, replacing the 82nd Airborne division as part of a major US troop rotation in Iraq.
The Marine's death brought the number of US troops killed by hostile actions since the start of the war to 400.
With less than 100 days to go until the handover, US officials are at pains to stress the improvements on the ground in Iraq since they invaded and occupied the country last year, citing mended water and electricity supplies, reopened schools and large numbers of new Iraqi security forces on the streets.