3:07am UK, Tuesday May 12, 2009

A US soldier has shot dead five of his fellow troops at an American base in Baghdad, a Pentagon official has said.

Scene of the tragedy: The American Camp Liberty in Baghdad

At least two others were wounded in the attack at Camp Liberty in the Iraqi capital, said the official.

The details of the incident remain unclear.

“The shooter is a US soldier and he is in custody,” said Marine Corps Lieutenant Tom Garnett, a US military spokesman.

A military statement said the shooting took place around 2 pm local time at the sprawling base next to Baghdad airport.

Earlier this month, two US soldiers were killed by a man wearing an Iraqi Army uniform at an Iraqi military training centre in northern Iraq.

The deaths come less than two months before American forces are due to withdraw combat troops from urban bases.

Thirteen American soldiers were killed in combat in April, including five who were killed in a single attack in the restive northern city of Mosul.