US soldiers kill 13 at Iraqi protest

AMERICAN soldiers opened fire on Iraqi protesters, killing 13 people, including three boys thought to be 10 years old.

US officials claimed the soldiers were shot at first with automatic rifles. At least 75 people were also injured in the attack.

The shooting took place late on Monday night, in Fallujah, about 30 miles west of the capital, Baghdad. The predominantly Sunni Muslim area provided strong support for Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party.