Saturday 12 April 2003

BAGHDAD - U.S. forces came under heavy automatic fire on the west bank of the Tigris river in central Baghdad on Saturday evening, and said they had killed up to 20 "enemy."

Reuters correspondents on the eastern side of the river, around the central Palestine Hotel, said they heard heavy machinegun and tank fire by U.S. forces across the river.

The exchange lasted around 20 minutes, they said.

U.S. Marine Sergeant Daniel Finn told Reuters that enemy fire had opened up on U.S. troops from six bunkers on the western river bank.

"We're not sure how many of them there were, but they opened fire and now they're dead," he said adding that he guessed there were 15-20 Iraqis or other nationals involved.

Separately, one U.S. Marine was killed when a gunman dressed in civilian clothes opened fire on Marines guarding a hospital near the Palestine Hotel.

"We lost a Marine," U.S. Marine Major Michael Purcell told Reuters.

He said a group of Marines was guarding the hospital when a gunman mixed in with civilians, moved close to the Marines and opened fire at close quarters.

"The guman was wounded or killed," Purcell added.

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