US troops involved in shooting of Iraqis

IRAQ, An Iraqi provincial governor accused U.S. forces of opening fire on civilian cars south of Baghdad on Sunday, in an incident in which two people died, and threatened to suspend ties with U.S. officials.

U.S. officials confirmed that a military convoy was involved in "an incident" that resulted in the death of two Iraqis and wounded four others, but gave no further details.

The governor of the southern Shi'ite province of Muthanna, Ahmed Marzok, earlier said six people were wounded in the attack, including two policemen, near Rumaitha, north of the provincial capital Samawa, 270 km (170 miles) south of Baghdad.

A minibus driver said two of his passengers were wounded when soldiers in a military convoy opened fire.

A statement from the U.S. military and the U.S. embassy in Baghdad said that initial reports indicated that an incident involving the U.S. military convoy led to the Iraqis' deaths, but did not give additional details.

"The coalition forces will work closely with the families, tribal and government leads in Muthanna to convey our deep regret and ensure the families of those killed, and those who were injured, are properly cared for," the statement said.

The U.S. statement promised its own investigation into what could be the latest in a string of incidents involvinmg the U.S. military and Iraqi civilians. Samawa, Monday,

Reuters