"Fire was indeed delivered from coalition forces, it was lethal fire and some Iraqis were killed as a result, we think the number is in the order of seven and we think there were some wounded as well," said Brigadier General Vincent Brooks at US Central Command's war base.

Hospital sources in Mosul said the death toll in Tuesday's shootings had risen to 15 with 28 wounded.

At Centcom on Tuesday Navy Commander Charles Owens had insisted that US forces "did not shoot into a crowd," echoing a US spokesman in Mosul.

SPACE.WIRE