WBRZ - Baton Rouge

According to an Iraqi police chief, today's fatal shooting of two U.S. troops by an Iraqi soldier followed an argument at an Iraqi army compound.

They were the first American servicemen killed since the U.S. declared an official end to combat operations in the country last week.

The Americans were providing security for a U.S. commander who was meeting with Iraqi forces at the compound when the Iraqi opened fire.

A military statement says nine other U.S. soldiers were wounded. The gunman was shot and killed.

The American commander in charge of U.S. forces in northern Iraq called it a "tragic and cowardly act," and said it's "not reflective of the Iraqi security forces."