Some Sunnis in Dora said the Shiite pilgrims provoked Sunday's fighting by chanting, "Damn the Sunnis, the highway is now ours," as they marched through the area the previous day.

One leader of a U.S.-backed local Sunni guard force in Dora said in an interview that Iraqi soldiers stationed in the area clashed with Sunnis who went to complain to them about the taunting.

"The army forces overreacted and had a serious brawl with the local residents," said the leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Army forces started shooting randomly at locals."