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Dozens of Civilians Killed in US Air Strikes in Fallujah
Sep 17, 2004
The U.S. military say it has conducted another air strike against a "suspected terrorist target" in the Iraqi city of Fallujah. A military statement Friday says U.S. forces successfully bombed a night-time meeting of about 10 loyalists of wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Residents and local hospital officials say three people were killed.
According to press and hospital reports, as many as 60 people. - including many women and children - were killed when US forces attacked targets allegedly connected to al-Qa'eda near the city of Falluja earlier Friday.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International is calling for an inquiry into recent attacks in which civilians were killed in Iraq in circumstances which may have violated international law.
"There are worrying reports about the mounting casualties amongst civilians who find themselves caught in the battle between American troops and insurgents," said Abdel Salam Sidahmed of Amnesty International Friday . "It is time to ask questions about whether these casualties could have been avoided, and whether needless deaths could be prevented in the future."
Thirteen civilians, including a young girl and a television cameraman working with al-Arabiya television, were killed in Haifa street in Baghdad on 12 September when US troops fired from a helicopter at a crowd, allegedly in response to shots fired from the same area. A US army spokesperson justified that attack and described the operation as "successful". The spokesperson said the US army did its best to "eliminate collateral damage". However, press reports contradict the US account that shots were fired at the helicopter from the same area.
"Multinational troops must take necessary precautions to protect civilians, and respect the principles of necessity and proportionality," said Mr. Sidahmed. "Amnesty International is seeking clarification of the measures multinational forces are taking to ensure that they comply fully with their obligations under international law."
A U.S. Marine was also killed Friday in Al-Anbar province, which includes Fallujah.
In Baghdad, at least eight Iraqis were killed and 20 wounded in a suicide car bombing that targeted a police convoy.
And the governor of Tikrit escaped unhurt from an ambush on his convoy. One bodyguard was killed
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