[Media-watch] Comical Allawi

[David McKnight]

Allawi denies, International Amnesty confirms the killing of civilians in Falluja
Iraq, Politics, 11/16/2004 http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/041116/2004111609.html



The Iraqi Interim prime minister Eyad Allawi alleged that he does not believe that there are civilians who were killed in the attack which resulted in killing 38 America soldiers and 6 Iraqi soldiers and more than 1200 gunmen. However, statements of witnesses contradicted with his statements. 

Members of an Iraqi relief committee told the Qatari al-Jazeera TV that he saw 22 bodies buried under the remains in one of Golan Quarters streets in the north of Falluja on Sunday. Muhammad Farhan Awad said " among the 22 bodies were found five in one house and also two children, 15 year old, and one man with an artificial leg. He added "some of the bodies we found were snatched by dogs and cats. It was a very painful scene." 

In London, Amnesty International concerned with human rights said on Sunday that the rules of war relating to the protection of civilians and injured fighters were violated by both sides in the attack which has been continuous since one week against Falluja. The organization gave examples of what it called violations of the rules by the American forces and the resistance men and called for investigations in all violations and to sue those responsible for them. The American and Iraqi attacking forces were not the only the side which did not take necessary steps to ensure that non- fighters were exposed to fire, rather the fighters misused ceasefire banners and opened fire indiscriminately. 

The organization said "Amnesty international fears that civilians were killed because the conflicting sides did not take necessary measures to protect non combatants and this is a violation to the International Humanitarian law." Amnesty International said that 20 Iraqi medical employees and scores others of civilians were killed when one missile hit a medical clinic in Falluja on November 9th, according to a story told by a doctor who survived the attack despite the fact it is not known who fired the missile. In the same day, ( November 9) a nine year old bled to death after he was hit in his stomach. His parents buried him in their house garden because they were not able to take him to the hospital because of the fighting. 

The organization added that news reports said that one woman and her three daughters were killed in another place after their house was bombarded. Amnesty International also said that a program in the British TV, the Fourth Channel news broadcast a shot on November 11 showing one American soldier opening fire at an injured fighter behind a wall and commented saying " he passed away." The organization said that "the American forces have to abide, according to international humanitarian law, by protecting fighters who are unable to continue fighting." Amnesty International urges the American authorities to investigate this incident immediately."

Previous Stories:
  Two messages from Allawi to Mubarak and Abdullah   (11/11/2004)
  Lebanese president stresses Iraq sovereignty   (11/11/2004)
  Khaddam confers with Iraqi Minister   (11/10/2004)


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