Baghdad: The US military said six insurgents were killed in raids in northern Iraq on Friday, but local police and an eyewitness said the dead included two women and four US-allied fighters.

The US military said in a statement that it conducted raids in the Salahuddin province, north of Baghdad, late Wednesday and early Thursday. One target was an alleged Al Qaida leader in the area. It was unclear if he had been killed or captured.

According to the military account released on Thursday, troops at one spot returned fire from insurgents, killing two. They then called in air support, which killed another four militants. One civilian was wounded and evacuated for further care, while 15 suspected insurgents were detained.

All those killed were "terrorists associated" with Al Qaida in Iraq, said Lieutenant Michael Street, a military spokesman.

An Iraqi police officer in the area, however, said that a house belonging to a Sunni Arab and tribal leader was bombarded in a US air strike, and that six family members died.