September 28, 2006

The US forces of occupation have added yet another massacre of civilians to its war criminal record in Iraq, when it executed a family of eight amongst which four women; two of which were pregnant, and arrested two other family members in the city of Baquba north east of Baghdad, reports a London based newspaper (28/9/2006).

Independent witnesses confirm the Alquds own reporting of an attack launched at 4am by US forces supported by helicopter gunship against the family residence of Mr Jasim Mohammed Mehdi, which is situated in the Alkatoon district, north west of Baquba.
"I was preparing the sohoor meal [early breakfast taken by muslims to start the daily fast in Ramadan]", said In’am Mehdi, a family member who survived this latest massacre, "when I heard the sound of explosions and loud automatic fire. I escaped from the house in fear, and waited until the Americans left. When I came back, I found my father and my brother killed with single bullet in the head; and my second brother and his pregnant wife killed with bullets to the chest". She then went on to say that "the Americans left no one alive; they killed four women and three men, and took another brother and my other sister with them having being injured".
A neighbour also confirmed the story.

Mr Mohammed Ghalib, who lives next door, sobbed as he told the London based paper that he heard the American soldiers laugh when they left the victims’ house. He also indicated that he heard the sound of shooting coming from inside the house whilst the US soldiers were inside, who had finally left around 7am.

Alquds investigated the family house and discovered that the executed family members were lined up against a wall and executed in a collective manner.

A US military spokesman admitted that coalition forces had killed eight Iraqis in Baquba that morning, amongst them 4 terrorists and four women. The spokesman said that the coalition forces had been fired upon as they approached the house.

The highly respected Association of Muslim Scholars has denounced this latest crime against the people of Iraq and urged an immediate independent investigation be opened.
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Alquds Alarabi (28/9/2006)