US soldiers killed at least four Iraqi civilians today in the centre of the town of Falluja when they opened fire after coming under rocket attack, witnesses said.
They said the troops were patrolling the town west of the capital Baghdad after a noisy anti-US protest when two rockets were fired at them. An elderly woman in a nearby house and three men in a car were killed when the soldiers returned fire, the witnesses said.
The woman who was killed was on a balcony of a nearby house while a car which was passing was caught in crossfire, the witnesses said. All three men inside were killed.
A US military spokeswoman in Baghdad said she had no immediate information on the incident.
Hundreds of people participated in the protest against the arrest of a young woman by troops in the town yesterday. Speakers said the woman was alone at home at the time and that her arrest was an insult.
Falluja, 30 miles west of Baghdad, is a stronghold of anti-US fighters who have mounted almost daily attacks on coalition forces.
At least three US helicopters have crashed around the town in less than two weeks, including one today. US spokesmen say all three were likely brought down by ground fire.
A Black Hawk helicopter crashed last week, killing all nine soldiers on board. An OH-58 Kiowa observation helicopter was brought down by guerrilla fire earlier in the month, killing one pilot and injuring the other. In November, 17 US soldiers were killed when two Black Hawks collided near the northern city of Mosul when they came under attack.