US soldier and attackers die in gunfight

An American soldier and two attackers were killed today in a firefight in the troubled Iraqi town of Fallujah.

Seven other troops were hurt in the battle, the US military said.

The attackers used rocket-propelled grenades and small arms in the assault, US Central Command said.

Initial reports said the attackers fired from a mosque in the city, 30 miles west of the capital Baghdad.

US troops responded with fire from their Bradley fighting vehicles, machine guns and small arms.

They killed two of the attackers and captured six, Centcom said.

A US army helicopter landed during the battle to evacuate the wounded and was damaged when a Bradley inadvertently struck it while manoeuvring into a firing position.

The wounded soldiers were evacuated to a local military aid station.