Officials in Turkey say a shootout between armed men and police officers near the U.S. consulate in Istanbul has killed three policemen and three attackers.
The governor of Istanbul, Muammer Guler, confirmed the deaths following the attack Wednesday on a police checkpoint.
Television stations CNN-Turk and NTV said police returned fire after gunmen jumped from a car and began shooting. Officials have labeled the attack a "terrorist" act.
One police officer is said to have died at the scene, while the other two died in a nearby hospital. Two other people - a policeman and the driver of a truck - were wounded in the exchange.
A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said there were no reports of injuries among consulate personnel.
Police are searching for a fourth assailant who drove away from the scene.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. - VOA News
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