Iraqi assailants destroyed a car with a rocket-propelled grenade and fired mortars late on Saturday in what appeared to be an unusual assault on residents in Awja, the birthplace of deposed leader Saddam Hussein, the US military officials said.

There were no reports of casualties in the attacks.

Soldiers believed they were aimed at Iraqis who cooperate with US forces based in the village just outside Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, according to US radio messages.

"It's pretty unusual. Not in that it's Iraqi on Iraqi -- that's not new -- but the method is unusual," Colonel James Hickey, commander of the 1st Brigade of the Fourth Infantry Division said during an overnight patrol.

The mortars fired toward Awja residents landed in fields between two US bases, Lieutenant Colonel Steve Russell, leader of the 1st battalion, 22nd Regiment, said.

Soldiers reported over the radio they thought Iraqis were the targets because they said Saddam loyalists had drawn up a hitlist that included some residents in the area of the attack.

"Either that or those guys are really bad shots," one said.

(China Daily September 7, 2003)