'US troops help end' deadly attack on Baghdad army base
5 September 2010 Last updated at 16:31
'US troops help end' deadly attack on Baghdad army base
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...10113207-1.jpg The base was targeted for the second time in three weeks
US forces have helped repel an attack on an army base in Baghdad in which seven people died, security officials have told the BBC.
If confirmed, it would mark the first such use of American troops since the official end of US combat operations five days ago.
Under a deal, US forces remaining in Iraq can only participate in operations at the request of Iraqi authorities.
The US military said it could not confirm or deny it had been involved.
Continue reading the main story Struggle for Iraq
The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Baghdad says reports from the scene are still confused, but piecing together events from different sources, the attack seems to have involved at least five bombers.
He says one of the bombers detonated his explosives at an outer checkpoint leading to the Rusafa military command headquarters, blowing up a mini-van.
Then, four men - some wearing suicide vests - ran towards the base. Two were reportedly shot dead before they could pass a second checkpoint.
An Iraqi officer at the scene told the BBC that two further bombers got into the base, taking refuge inside the building, and attacking security forces with hand grenades.
The same officer said that US forces were called in to help, and exchanged gunfire with the attackers before Iraqi security forces stormed the building, killing the bombers.
More than 20 people were wounded in the incident.
The attack is the deadliest in Baghdad since the US formally ended combat operations last month.
The same compound was attacked by al-Qaeda in Iraq three weeks ago, when more than 50 recruits were killed.
