Two Iraqis killed in firefight with U.S. troops
From Karl Penhaul
CNN
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U.S. soldiers stand guard outside the local administration office in Fallujah, west of Baghdad, on Thursday.
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SPECIAL REPORT
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FALLUJAH, Iraq (CNN) -- At least two Iraqis were killed and five captured when gunmen Wednesday night opened fire on a U.S. patrol with rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles in Fallujah's city center, U.S. Army sources said.
The firefight began when a man stepped out of an alley and fired a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at a Bradley fighting vehicle. The grenade caused only "slight damage," according to unit commander Capt. Mike Riedmuller.
He said three other RPG rounds were fired but didn't hit the Bradley, adding that none of the soldiers inside the vehicle was injured.
Shortly after the initial attack, a pickup truck approached a Bradley sent to reinforce the first patrol. U.S. troops opened fire, killing both occupants, Riedmuller said.
This was the first serious incident in Fallujah since 17 civilians were killed and seven soldiers wounded in three days of anti-American protests at the end of April and the beginning of May.
