Bodies, including those of children, were still strewn over the road between Al-Dora and the international airport, which is under the control of US forces.

The putrid, fly-covered corpses were being buried along the sides of the road by volunteers, according to the photographer.

A US officer at the scene said Saddam's Fedayeen paramilitary militia attacked an American convoy which retaliated, causing the deaths.

Witnesses, however, said US soldiers opened fire on cars carrying civilians they thought posed a threat.

SPACE.WIRE