Iraqi police killed by U.S. forces

Feb 16 - Three Iraqi policemen are killed when U.S. helicopters opened fire on a local police unit south of Baghdad.

The U.S. military said helicopters opened fire with rockets after coming under small-arms fire early on Friday at Jurf al-Sakhar, 85 km (53 miles) south of Baghdad.

Members of the unit said they fired a warning shot into the air when they saw a force approaching their position. The incident took place as the Iraqi government announced a significant reduction in the number of militant attacks in Iraq.

Sonia Legg reports.