DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now to the mission in Iraq and a deadly showdown between coalition troops and protesters. Witnesses say that U.S. troops fired on demonstrators this morning in Fallujah, a hotbed of insurgency. At least three Iraqis are reported killed. Our Karl Penhaul is in Baghdad. He has the latest. Karl, hello.</s>KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn. Indeed, another day of troubles in the wrested Sunni Triangle west of Baghdad. In the incident in Fallujah, we've been talking to sources at the mayor's office in the town, they say that an RPG, a rocket propelled grenade, was fired at U.S. soldiers guarding the complex where the mayor's office is situated. As that exploded, then U.S. troops returned fire. Three Iraqis were killed in that incident, including one woman. The mayor's office tells us so far no word from coalition sources on that. It doesn't appear, though, this attack was linked to earlier demonstrations. Both yesterday and early this morning, there were demonstrations in the town. That was to protect the arrest of a woman. But it seems that she was released yesterday, and the mayor's office saying this latest attack not linked to that. Now a little bit west of the town of Fallujah, around the town of Habiniyah (ph), a U.S. Army attack helicopter has been shot down, according to coalition military sources. The two-man crew aboard that helicopter, though, have been rescued. They are safe. Now, this is the third attack, or the third shootdown, of a coalition helicopter in the region in the last two weeks. The most deadly was late last week, when a Blackhawk medical evacuation helicopter was shot down. All nine people onboard there were killed. As you'll remember, Daryn, the Sunni Triangle is really the heartland of the resistance against coalition forces. Coalitions say the insurgency there being led by die hard followers of Saddam Hussein.</s>KAGAN: Karl Penhaul in Baghdad. Karl, thank you for that report.
Deadly Showdown Between Coalition Troops, Protesters