The report quoted residents as saying Americans had opened fire after the attack, killing two Iraqis.

The bomb appeared to have been hidden among palm trees beside the road, according to an Associated Press account quoting local residents.

Western news agencies reported varying death tolls, quoting local residents as saying that as many as 30 people were killed.

Colonel Elias said army intelligence, quoting residents of the island, reported that the hostages were unharmed.

First news reports quoted residents who saw the 20-minute attack.

Investigators quoted residents near the crash site as saying they did not hear any engines as the plane glided down.

Despite that claim, Reuters quoted local residents who said after the strike that there had been no fighters in the area at the time.

The statement did not mention any casualties, though news agencies quoted hospital officials and residents as saying five people were wounded, including some children.

News agencies, quoting local residents, have put the death toll between 20 and 200.

Kirp avoids condemning anyone and quotes residents who had long feared for their safety and mistrusted neighbors of other races.