US forces fought rebels in the Iraqi town of Falluja today, with one civilian killed and four wounded in the shooting, hospital officials said.
Residents said US troops had come under attack when they entered the town's Hay al-Askari neighbourhood. The troops sealed off the area and did house-to-house searches.
Soldiers carried out a similar operation in the Hay al-Shuhada district. US troops turned back reporters trying to reach Falluja, where explosions and heavy gunfire could be heard.
Falluja, about 60 kilometres west of Baghdad, has been known for its fierce hostility to the US-led occupation. The US military had no immediate word on the fighting in the Sunni Muslim town.