US probes raid after civilian death allegations

BAGHDAD, July 3 (Reuters) The US military said today it was investigating an air strike on insurgent targets in a southern Iraqi city after local officials said 10 civilians were killed in the attack.

The military said in a statement two F-16 fighter planes hit targets in a street in the Shi'ite Muslim city of Diwaniya after militants fired up to 75 mortar bombs and rockets at a military base early yesterday.

''Coalition forces are reviewing the incident to ensure that appropriate and proportionate force was used in responding to the intense attack,'' the military said.

Hameed al-Juati, a senior health official in Diwaniya, told local radio yesterday 10 civilians had been killed. A hospital source and a police source both also said 10 people had died.

The hospital source said the dead included six children under the age of 12.

REUTERS GL DS1148