October 16, 2003	Thursday	Sha'aban 19, 1424

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BAGHDAD, Oct 15: Several people were killed by US troops after infiltrating Iraq from Syria and shooting at a US helicopter, forcing it to land but causing no casualties, US officials said on Wednesday.

“Soldiers engaged a small number of people who infiltrated from the border,” a coalition spokesman said. “Some were killed, others detained,” he said, adding that small arms and rocket-propelled grenades were seized.

During the operation, a OH-58 reconnaissance helicopter took small arms fire that damaged a hydraulic pump forcing the pilot to land, the spokesman said.

Another official said there were no US injuries in Tuesday night’s incident near Husaybah, about 360kms northwest of Baghdad.—AFP