Iraqi civilians killed, hurt in gunbattle during US raid in northern Iraq

Several Iraqi civilians were killed or wounded Wednesday in a gunbattle between U.S. troops and suspected al-Qaida in Iraq insurgents in northern Iraq, the American military said.

Iraqi police and witnesses said at least seven civilians were killed, included a local judge, and nine wounded when U.S. troops came under fire and called in an airstrike while raiding two houses in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit.

Two houses were destroyed and at least three cars were burned to hulks, a resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

"I saw two women and a child were running away from one of these houses," the resident said.

A police officer, who also declined to be identified because he wasn't authorized to release the information, said at least six charred bodies and another victim were found in the rubble. He said one house belonged to a local judge, who was among the dead.

The U.S. military said the operation was targeting a member of al-Qaida in Iraq who was suspected of organizing car bombings for the group.

An airstrike was ordered after soldiers encountered heavy fire from insurgents using civilians as shields when they approached the house, according to the military statement.

"Preliminary assessment indicates that despite coalition forces' efforts to protect them, several civilians were injured or killed during the ensuing gunbattle," the military said.

Soldiers treated the wounded on site and transported some to a military medical facility, it said, adding more details would be released as they become available.

"Coalition forces make every effort to protect civilians during our operations, but al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists continue to place women and children in harm's way," said U.S. military spokesman Maj. Winfield Danielson.

Tikrit is 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Baghdad.