'Many killed' after US soldiers fire on demonstrators

US soldiers opened fire last night on demonstrators in the Iraqi city of Fallujah.

A US officer said his troops, headquarted in a schoolhouse, had been fired on from the crowd. They fired back and hit seven protesters.

However, residents said at least 15 people were killed. The Al–Jazeera television station reported that local residents said the troops opened fire after someone threw a rock at the school.

The shootings took place last night in Fallujah, about 30 miles west of Baghdad.

Colonel Arnold Bray of the 82nd Airborne Division said that seven people in the crowd were hit.

Local residents said the demonstration was conducted by students between the ages of five and 20, but Bray said some were armed.

"Ask them which kind of schoolboys carry AK-47s," Bray said.

The demonstrators were reportedly protesting at US troops' presence in the city.