US forces kill at least six Iraqi security officers - police

Baghdad: At least six Iraqi security officers were killed by US forces on Wednesday, Iraqi police said.

Iraqi police and army forces, and a neighbourhood patrol group, fired warning shots in the air when a US boat passed along the Tigris River near their checkpoint close to the town of Tarmiya just north of Baghdad, Iraqi police said.

The US forces retaliated, calling in air support.

"The Iraqis fired into the air, not knowing it was a US boat. The US soldiers returned fire and called in air support, and six Iraqis were killed and 10 others injured," said a police source, who declined to be identified.

US forces said the troops traded fire with Iraqi security forces, confirming that aircraft had been involved.

A military statement described the clash as a mistake: "It is always regrettable when incidents of mistaken fire occur on the battlefield, a review of the circumstances is under way."