2 Iraqis killed in incident with U.S. convoy

[unhappycamper]

2 Iraqis killed in incident with U.S. convoy
By Sameer N. Yacoub - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Nov 18, 2007 16:12:21 EST

BAGHDAD — Two Iraqis were killed and four wounded Sunday in an incident involving a U.S. military convoy in a southern province, American officials said Sunday. Local officials claimed the soldiers had opened fire randomly.

A spokesman for the Muthanna provincial council claimed that U.S. soldiers in a convoy opened fire on a group of cars on the highway between the cities of Samawah, about 230 miles southeast of Baghdad, and Rumaitha to the north.

Shakir al-Ajibi described the act as “criminal and brutal” and said the provincial council had decided to cut ties with U.S. officials and reconstruction teams in protest. He also claimed five cars and a truck carrying sheep were burned said the provincial governor had called on the Iraqi government to start an investigation.

The statement issued jointly by the U.S. military and the U.S. Embassy gave few details but expressed “deep regret” for the deaths and promised the incident was being fully investigated.

“Initial reports are that an incident involving a U.S. military convoy resulted in the death of two Iraqi citizens and wounded four others,” it said. “We profoundly regret when any innocent civilian is killed or injured.”

It was the latest in a series of killings of civilians allegedly at the hands of U.S. forces and foreign security contracts that have sparked outrage among Iraqis who accuse the Westerners of often using overly heavy-handed tactics.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/11/ap_iraqdeaths_071118/