US army 'is killing innocents'

2006-05-18 10:45

Washington - A United States lawmaker and retired marine colonel on Wednesday accused US marines of killing innocent Iraqi civilians after a roadside bomb killed their comrade.

John Murtha said: "Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood."

The Vietnam war veteran said: "There was no firefight" that led to the shootings at close range, contradicting early official accounts saying a roadside bomb had killed the Iraqis in the November 19 incident.

He said: "There were no roadside bombs that killed these innocent people."

Death toll can be 'twice as high'

On March 27, reports cited an Iraqi human rights group and residents of Haditha, Iraq, who said marines, barged into the homes throwing grenades and shooting, killing 15 unarmed Iraqis including women and children.

Murtha said the death toll could be "twice as high". He said: "It's much worse than what was reported."

The reports also said that at least three marine officers were under official investigation, and no official report had been released.

Lieutenant colonel Sean Gibson said: "I don't know where representative Murtha is obtaining his information. Thoroughness will drive the investigation."

US to withdraw troops from Iraq

Murtha was a harsh critic of the war in Iraq and said such incidents resulted from inadequate planning, training and troop numbers in Iraq.

Murtha said: "I feel that the tremendous pressure and the redeployment over and over again is a big part of this.

"These guys are under tremendous strain, more strain than I can conceive of. And this strain has caused them to crack in situations like this."

Six months ago, Murtha shocked Washington by introducing a resolution in congress to withdraw US troops from Iraq.

The Pennsylvania democrat said: "Since that time, we've lost 370 Americans, we're spending $9bn a month (violent attacks) have increased from 550 a week to 900 a week, and we lost 1 000 Iraqis in the last month.

"Now, you can imagine the impact this is going to have on those troops for the rest of their life and for the US in our war and our effort in trying to win the hearts and minds?"

- AFP