Officials say Iraqi troops have killed three protesters and wounded 11 while trying to prevent the demonstrators from joining an anti-government rally west of Baghdad, The Associated Press reports.

Police officials say the soldiers opened fire after a group of protesters started throwing stones on an army checkpoint nearby. The troops had blocked the demonstrators from joining another rally in Fallujah. The city is about 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of Baghdad.

Medics in a Fallujah hospital confirmed the casualties. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

The weekly protests on Fridays started last month in Anbar province, which is mostly Sunni and where the people are disenchanted with the Shiite-led government.