BAGHDAD - Iraqi police fired into the air to quell a riot of 1,000 protesters demanding jobs at a downtown Baghdad police station.

Baghdad

Demonstrators threw rocks at officers and fist fights broke out between some of the protesters and Iraqi police. Protesters set two cars on fire.

Police Lt. Mothana Ali said the riot broke out after the group was told they were not hiring new officers.

Protesters said they had been promised police jobs in July and that police were demanding bribes in return for hiring them.

Chief of the east Baghdad police Brig. Khadum Abide told the demonstrators the appointments to the force would be announced on television in three days.

U.S. troops arrived at the scene about 45 minutes after the shooting broke out.