US troops shoot TV channel staff

US troops shot dead two staff from US funded Iraqi TV station Al-Iraqiya today and wounded another in the central city of Samaraa, the station said.

Correspondent Asaad Kadhim and driver Hussein Saleh were killed and cameraman Bassem Kamel was wounded “after US forces opened fire on them while they were performing their duty,” Al-Iraqya said.

The station, which is funded by the Pentagon, interrupted its broadcasts tonight and began airing only Koranic texts as a symbol of mourning.