Baghdad - US troops killed eight civilians late Wednesday in Bayji, 200 km north of Baghdad, said a source in the Iraqi police in Salahaddin province.

"A US helicopter killed eight Iraqis during a raid in east Bayji," the source told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

It is not clear yet why they were shot. The source said that the eight citizens tried to escape during the US raid, while villagers mentioned they were only trying to go out.

US troops arrested seven citizens and burnt one building and two cars.

Eyewitnesses said that the US troops stopped all white-coloured cars and checked their IDs. They added that people stayed at home out of fear of being shot or arrested. (dpa)