Meanwhile, in Baghdad

US soldiers kill two Iraqi sisters

Friday 28 November 2003, 15:09 Makka Time, 12:09 GMT

Two young Iraqi sisters have been shot and killed by US troops near Baqubah, some 60km (35 miles) north of Baghdad, police and family members said Friday.

American troops at Ibn Firnas airport, seven kilometres (four miles) from Baquba, shot Fatima and Azra, 15 and 12, on Thursday at midday as they were collecting wood from a field some 30m away, their brother said.

"Azra died on the spot and my other sister later died from her wounds," said 18-year-old Qusay.

Policeman Hussein Ali said US forces handed one of the girls' bodies over to the police "arguing that she had a gun in her possession."

Police searched the girls' home, "without finding anything illegal," Ali added.

There was no immediate comment from the US military.

Baghdad march

Meanwhile in Baghdad, police closed off the capital's main commercial thoroughfare on Friday for hundreds of Iraqis demonstrating against terrorism amid persistent fears of attack by anti-US insurgents or Islamic militants.

There was a brief flurry of panic at the front of the march as it passed the Palestine - Baghdad's best-known media hotel - and police halted the demonstrators because of a suspect car.

An aggressive search of the vehicle turned up no explosives and the rally was able to continue on its way.

But the security services were taking no chances with a rally insurgents were bound to see as pro-US.

A heavy Iraqi police presence accompanied the marchers while two US military helicopters hovered overhead.

Well, there's the answer to security for Iraqis, isn't it? Participate in pro-US marches.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

Update Dec 2, 03: The case has since been reported as a civilian murder case. And the article in the link above now reflects that. At the time I originally posted, that was not in the report.