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*Groan* Man, this downward spiral is starting to pick up some more steam... 
U.S. Troops Fire on Iraq Protesters Again
21 minutes ago
By CHARLES J. HANLEY, AP Special Correspondent
FALLUJAH, Iraq - U.S. troops opened fire on anti-American demonstrators for the second time this week as Iraqis marched Wednesday to protest the previous shooting. At least two Iraqis were seen to be wounded.
The gunfire came less than 48 hours after a shooting during a demonstration Monday night that hospital officials said killed 13 Iraqis.
There was no immediate indication of any American casualties.
About 1,000 residents were marching down Fallujah's main street and stopped in front of a battalion headquarters of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division. They were carrying signs condemning Monday night's shooting.
When some protesters started throwing rocks and shoes at the U.S.-held compound — a former office of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s ruling Baath Party — troops inside suddenly opened fire at about 10:30 a.m., according to Associated Press reporters on the scene.
The demonstrators scattered, leaving two of their number fallen. Others came back and picked up the wounded and carried them off.
U.S. Capt. Jeff Wilbur, 25, of Annapolis, Md., a civil affairs officer for the 1st Battalion's 325 Airborne regimen, said the United States was investigating whether protesters had fired on troops. He said it was not clear whether any Americans were hurt in Wednesday's incident.
Iraqi city officials who witnessed the gunfire said they saw or heard no shooting from among the protesters.
U.S. Apache attack helicopters circled the site throughout the march and the aftermath, but did not open fire.
"Why? The demonstrators didn't use guns, so why should the soldiers start attacking them?" asked the imam of the Grand Fallujah Mosque, Jamal Shaqir Mahmood.
He said the Americans should pull out of Fallujah — or at least cut back their forces.
"There is no (Iraqi) military presence here. Why is there an American military presence? We just want a reduction in the numbers," he said.
The incident, coupled with the deaths Monday outside a school in Fallujah, a conservative Sunni Muslim city and Baath Party stronghold 30 miles west of the capital, are increasing tension as American troops try to keep the peace in Iraq (news - web sites).
In the Monday night clash, U.S. Central Command said paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne were fired on by about 25 armed civilians mixed within an estimated crowd of 200 protesters outside a compound where the troops were staying.
Demonstrators said no gunfire came from their side during the Monday night incident.
U.S. Troops Fire on Iraq Protesters Again
21 minutes ago
By CHARLES J. HANLEY, AP Special Correspondent
FALLUJAH, Iraq - U.S. troops opened fire on anti-American demonstrators for the second time this week as Iraqis marched Wednesday to protest the previous shooting. At least two Iraqis were seen to be wounded.
The gunfire came less than 48 hours after a shooting during a demonstration Monday night that hospital officials said killed 13 Iraqis.
There was no immediate indication of any American casualties.
About 1,000 residents were marching down Fallujah's main street and stopped in front of a battalion headquarters of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division. They were carrying signs condemning Monday night's shooting.
When some protesters started throwing rocks and shoes at the U.S.-held compound — a former office of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s ruling Baath Party — troops inside suddenly opened fire at about 10:30 a.m., according to Associated Press reporters on the scene.
The demonstrators scattered, leaving two of their number fallen. Others came back and picked up the wounded and carried them off.
U.S. Capt. Jeff Wilbur, 25, of Annapolis, Md., a civil affairs officer for the 1st Battalion's 325 Airborne regimen, said the United States was investigating whether protesters had fired on troops. He said it was not clear whether any Americans were hurt in Wednesday's incident.
Iraqi city officials who witnessed the gunfire said they saw or heard no shooting from among the protesters.
U.S. Apache attack helicopters circled the site throughout the march and the aftermath, but did not open fire.
"Why? The demonstrators didn't use guns, so why should the soldiers start attacking them?" asked the imam of the Grand Fallujah Mosque, Jamal Shaqir Mahmood.
He said the Americans should pull out of Fallujah — or at least cut back their forces.
"There is no (Iraqi) military presence here. Why is there an American military presence? We just want a reduction in the numbers," he said.
The incident, coupled with the deaths Monday outside a school in Fallujah, a conservative Sunni Muslim city and Baath Party stronghold 30 miles west of the capital, are increasing tension as American troops try to keep the peace in Iraq (news - web sites).
In the Monday night clash, U.S. Central Command said paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne were fired on by about 25 armed civilians mixed within an estimated crowd of 200 protesters outside a compound where the troops were staying.
Demonstrators said no gunfire came from their side during the Monday night incident.
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