BAGHDAD, Aug. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The US air strike early on Tuesday near the Iraqi western town of Qaim killed 56 civilians, said an Interior Ministry source.

    "We have information that the US aircraft pounded areas near the town of Qaim near the Syrian border, destroying four houses and killing a total of 56 people," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

    Sixteen people were killed in one of the houses, which was leveled in the attack, he said, adding 40 others were killed in a second house, where three families gathered.

    Only two boys aged eight and ten survived in the second house, he added.

    A US military spokesman said that its aircraft shelled suspectedal-Qaida hideouts near Qaim, killing several militants, including Abu Islam.

    "There was a total of three strikes targeting terrorist safe houses and Abu Islam and several of his associates were killed," said the spokesman in Baghdad.

    Earlier, the Qatar-based al-Jazeera satellite television reported that the US aircraft carried out strikes on villages near Qaim, killing more than 40 people and wounding dozens.

    "US aircraft pounded a house at about 2:00 a.m. (2200 GMT Monday) in Karabla village," the channel quoted witnesses as saying.

    "Thirty people are still under debris and only five wounded civilians were admitted to the medical center, which was also attacked by US aircraft. Some workers were wounded in the attack," medical sources were quoted as saying.

    Four hours later, a second house was destroyed by US aircraft in another air strike on al-Salman village near Qaim, killing 15 people, the channel said. Enditem