A Better Report of the Mosul Riot

A witness told the Guardian that US troops protecting the city's government building had fired on a crowd which became hostile towards Mashaan al-Juburi, a prominent Iraqi opposition leader, as he was making a speech.

The witness said members of the crowd had thrown stones at the self-styled city governor and one person had tried to attack him with a knife. His car had been overturned and set ablaze. In the ensuing chaos, US troops protecting the area had come under fire from a building opposite.

Some witnesses claimed the US soldiers had lost their cool and began firing into the crowd. Others said the killing had taken place after the American unit withdrew and a gunfight broke out between Mr Juburi's supporters and his opponents.

A US marine officer last night confirmed there had been a gun battle lasting about 15 minutes after US forces came under attack from elements within the crowd. They returned with "accurate fire".

In an effort to restore order, three US F-14s were called in to buzz low over the city.

The death toll is a blow to US attempts to restore calm to Mosul after 24 hours of looting and violence left the city's administrative structure in ruins and many people dead in bouts of armed robbery and score-settling.

Last night two people died in a three-hour gun battle in the wealthy suburb of Zuhoor, when an armed gang tried to make off with a Land Cruiser.