Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/29/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ / SHOOTING (L)

NUMBER=2-302698

BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN

DATELINE=BAGHDAD, IRAQ

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The U-S military confirms a shooting incident in which at least 13 people were killed and more than 70 injured late Monday in an Iraqi town west of Baghdad. The U-S military and local residents have different versions of the incident. Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports from Baghdad.

TEXT: While families buried those killed in Monday's shooting incident, demonstrators shouted for the U-S troops to leave Iraq.

U-S soldiers in Falluja say they returned fire late Monday when some armed men in an anti-U-S demonstration shot at them. They say they also spotted snipers on a nearby rooftop. Local residents say the demonstrators were not armed.

U-S Army Colonel Arnold Bray describes what the soldiers say happened.

/// BRAY ACT ///

They were initially a peaceful demonstration and they were just chanting and making comments. It changed a little bit when they started throwing rocks. Next thing they did was fire an AK-47 from the rear, but they were not firing at us yet. It changed when members of the crowd started firing their weapons towards the troopers.

/// END ACT ///

The soldiers are camped in one of the town's schools. Protesters were demanding the soldiers vacate the school so students to return to classes.

The shooting incident highlights the ongoing tension, particularly in towns like Falluja, which was a Saddam Hussein stronghold. One resident told reporters the demonstrators were carrying Iraqi flags and portraits of the ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to celebrate his 66th birthday on Monday. (SIGNED)

NEB/LMK/AWP/RH/rae