US Troops fire on protesters Kill 10 Injure 100

The incident overshadowed the start of US-brokered talks aimed at dividing-up post-invasion Iraq and could ignite anti-US sentiment sparked in protests in Baghdad and at the talks in the southern city of Nasiriyah.

Witnesses reported that US troops had fired into a crowd, which was becoming increasingly boisterous towards the new puppet governor in the northern oil city, Mashaan al-Juburi, as he was making a pro-US speech. "There are perhaps 100 wounded and 10 to 12 dead," Dr Ayad al-Ramadhani said at the city hospital.

US officials moved quickly to switch attention to Syria, alleging that Damascus had been developing weapons of mass destruction, prompting appeals for calm from the United Nations and Arab and European governments. European Union foreign ministers called on Washington to tone down its rhetoric. "What we need now is to cool off the situation, not to increase the tension, we have enough tensions in the region ... not to create more," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said yesterday.

Meanwhile the US-sponsored a meeting in Nasiriyah But the man tipped to become Iraq's next leader, Ahmad Chalabi, head of the US-puppet Iraqi National Congress, was not due to attend. Chalabi, who has insisted he is not a candidate for a post in the interim administration to be run by retired US general Jay Garner, planned to send a representative. The New York Times quoted Garner as saying his mission to rebuild Iraq's political structures would be messy and contentious. His fears appeared justified as the talks in the Shi'ite bastion sparked a demonstration estimated by journalists to number around 20,000 people, led by religious figures. "Yes to freedom ... Yes to Islam ... No to America, No to Saddam," the crowd chanted in the centre of Nasiriyah.

Life in Baghdad remained far from normal six days after US troops entered. Most shops remained closed, and many parts of the city still lacked water or electricity. Some 20,000-30,000 Iraqis gathered outside the Palestine Hotel to express their rage at what they said was the US occupation.