The US Defence Department has begun an investigation into possible war crimes after images of a US marine killing an unarmed and injured Iraqi in a mosque in Fallujah were broadcast on US television last night.
The US military said the inquiry would try to establish whether or not the marine acted in self-defence.
The images were captured by Kevin Sites, an NBC reporter who was assigned to the US troops as they waged the battle on the rebel stronghold.
Mr Sites claims to have witnessed US marines storming the mosque and killing some ten militants and wounding five others.
A day later, he said a second group of marines returned to the mosque where the injured were still hiding.
When one of the Iraqis was discovered alive, a marine instantly shot him dead, Mr Sites said.
Some blurred images of the incident were broadcast on American TV yesterday and the shooting was heard though not shown.
The NBC reporter said the images of the shooting were too disturbing to be broadcast.
