Iraqi soldiers fire in air to break up anti-government protests by Sunni minority

BAGHDAD Iraqi officials say soldiers have fired into the air in an effort to disperse protesters demonstrating in the north of the country against the Shiite-led government.

Two security officials in the Mosul operations command center said Monday that shots were fired after a small number of protesters in the city tried to climb on Iraqi army Humvees.

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They say no one was injured in the shooting. One of the officials said three protesters were injured in a collision with an army vehicle, however.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information to reporters.

Protesters drawn primarily from Iraq's Sunni minority have been rallying for more than two weeks to protest what they see is unfair government treatment of their sect.