Iraq: US strikes kill 11 Iraqis

[ProSense]

Iraq: US strikes kill 11 Iraqis

2 hours, 17 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - U.S. helicopters opened fire on a group of men observed planting roadside bombs north of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing 11 Iraqis, including at least six civilians, the military said.

The suspected militants ran into a nearby house after the initial engagement and the Apache helicopter continued to fire at them, said Maj. Peggy Kageleiry, a military spokeswoman in the area.

Six civilians and five military aged men were killed and five people were wounded and evacuated to a hospital in nearby Tikrit, 80 miles north of Baghdad, she said, adding it was unclear how many of the men were in the group were planting the roadside bombs.

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She expressed regret for the deaths of the civilians but blamed the insurgents for putting their lives in danger by running into the house to escape attack by the U.S. forces.

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Unbelievable!

How to reduce the civilian death toll in Iraq: increase bombing, call dead militants

[ProSense]

1. One sure result of raid: strong anger

Posted on Tue, Oct. 23, 2007

One sure result of raid: strong anger

By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN
McClatchy Newspapers

BAGHDAD -- Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood seethed with anger Monday over a U.S. military raid that U.S. officials said targeted a kidnapping ring but that Iraqis say killed as many as 17 innocent civilians, including women and children.

U.S. officials declined to provide more information on the Sunday raid, but they continued to insist that no civilians were among the 49 people killed during the bloody sweep.

It was the latest violent incident in which U.S. and Iraqi accounts differed radically.

U.S. military officials said U.S. troops came under attack in Sadr City on three separate occasions and that only insurgents were killed in the ensuing combat. Iraqi officials denounced that version and called for an investigation.

"People in Sadr City are upset with the Americans, the Iraqi government. Why can't they protect the innocent?" said Jassim Hashim, a 35-year-old train engineer who said he was shot in the leg during the raids.

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