US troops clash with Iraq rebels

The Falluja area has been the scene of frequent clashes

A US marine and at least five Iraqis have been killed in heavy fighting between US soldiers and Iraqi insurgents in the town of Falluja.

Shooting broke out when marines entered the town on Friday to carry out house-to-house searches, witnesses said.

US troops rarely venture into Falluja - which is located within the "Sunni triangle", the traditional power base of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Earlier, seven people were killed in raids in the northern town of Tikrit.

The US military said four members of the Iraqi Civil Defence Corps were killed, along with three suspected insurgents.

The Iraqi security forces had been carrying out a raid in the town when the fighting broke out at about 0400 local time (0100 GMT), a US spokeswoman said. Twenty-one people were arrested.

'Bloody day'

In Falluja, witnesses spoke of explosions and heavy gunfire as US soldiers fought running battles with masked insurgents armed with mortars and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

Hospital officials said all the Iraqis who died were civilians. They included a TV cameramen working for the US network ABC and at least one child.

There were several Iraqi injuries.

Several US marines were also wounded, a military spokesman said.

"It was a bloody day in Falluja," doctor Mohammad Daham told Reuters television. "We have been receiving casualties in great numbers."

US forces sealed off the town and were later reported to be in control.

ABC News said freelance cameraman Burhan Mohammed Mazhour had been working for the organisation in Falluja for two months.

"He died of gunshot wounds while covering a firefight in Falluja," company president David Westin said in a statement.

"We are trying to confirm all the details surrounding his death and have asked the US military for an investigation."

The Falluja area is regarded by coalition forces as one of the most dangerous parts of Iraq.

US forces came under attack in Falluja on Thursday, too

Support there for Saddam Hussein was strong during last year's US-led invasion, and since then rebels have carried out many attacks against coalition forces in Falluja.

On Thursday, one US marine was killed and two were wounded when their convoy was attacked east of the town.

Last month at least 27 people - mostly policemen - died in an attack by insurgents on Falluja, which is about 50km (31 miles) west of Baghdad.