Pentagon Admits Using White Phosphorous in Iraq

Italian communists held a sit-in Monday in front of the U.S. Embassy in Rome to protest the reported use by American troops of white phosphorous. Italy's state-run RAI24 news television aired a documentary last week alleging the U.S. used white phosphorous shells in a ''massive and indiscriminate way'' against civilians during the Fallujah offensive.

The State Department, in response, initially denied that U.S. troops had used white phosphorous against enemy forces. ''They were fired into the air to illuminate enemy positions at night, not at enemy fighters.''

The department later said its statement had been incorrect.