U.S. Troops Kill Six Iraqi Security Forces

U.S. forces killed six Iraqi security personnel north of Baghdad on Wednesday, Iraqi officials said, in an incident which the American military said was a case of "mistaken fire."

The shooting erupted at a joint Iraqi police and army checkpoint in the town of Tarmiyah at around 5:00 am (0200 GMT) Wednesday, interior and defense ministry officials said.

The U.S. military confirmed the incident and said there was an exchange of fire between the coalition and Iraqi forces when its troops were conducting operations against Al-Qaeda.

It gave no immediate confirmation of the death toll.

"It is always regrettable when incidents of mistaken fire occur on the battlefield," the military said in a statement.

"A review of the circumstances is under way."