AFP : US forces kill 49 in Baghdad Shiite stronghold

US forces kill 49 in Baghdad Shiite stronghold

October 22, 2007

BAGHDAD (AFP) — US forces killed 49 "criminals" in fierce fighting with militants in Baghdad's Shiite stronghold of Sadr City on Sunday during a raid targeting an Iranian-linked insurgent, the military said.

Medics at four hospitals confirmed 17 dead, including a boy and a girl, but US military spokesman Major Winfield Danielson told AFP there were no civilian casualties and no reports of American losses.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered a probe into the incident which the Iraqi authorities said had caused civilian casualties.

Pictures taken by an AFP photographer showed grieving relatives carrying off the bodies of dead for burial and dozens of wounded being treated by emergency hospital staff.

One resident stood crying over the coffin of a young boy, while other residents pointed to blood-stained mattresses they said were the result of an air strike from an American helicopter.

The US military said troops were drawn into fighting after they launched a raid to seize their high-value target in Sadr City, a poor part of the capital dominated by militia loyal to anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

"The operation's objective was an individual reported to be a long-time Special Groups member specialising in kidnapping operations," a statement said.

"Special Groups" is a US term for what it says are secret Shiite cells which wage acts of "terrorism" in Iraq with the financial and military backing of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards units.

"Intelligence indicates he is a well-known cell leader and has previously sought funding from Iran to carry out high profile kidnappings," the statement said.

Danielson said the targeted individual had not been killed or captured during the clashes, which the military said erupted when troops were attacked by gunfire and rocket propelled grenades.

"Responding in self-defence, coalition forces engaged, killing an estimated 33 criminals," the statement said, adding that air support was then called in and killed another six. Ten more were killed as US forces withdrew, it said.

"I can say that we don't have any evidence of any civilians killed or wounded. Coalition forces only engage hostile threats and make every effort to protect innocent civilians," said Danielson.

Iraq's national security committee, headed by Maliki, said the firefight had killed "innocent civilians."

"The prime minister spoke out against the use of excessive force in chasing wanted (suspects) as it could cause damage to innocent civilians and their property," Maliki's office said. "The prime minister also said the incident would be investigated."

The US military has regularly targeted Sadr's Mahdi Army militia, which dominates in Sadr City and is accused by the Americans of widescale criminal activity and sectarian killings of Sunnis.

Sadr, whose movement is the most powerful popular force in Iraq, declared a six-month freeze on militia activities in August, including a halt to attacks on US-led troops.

But his political bloc pulled out of the Shiite alliance that leads Iraq's coalition government in September following a boycott by his six ministers in April, further upsetting Iraq's already fractured political landscape.

"What happened today in Sadr City is part of a series of conspiracies led by the US against the Sadrists. Sadrists who are always demanding the exit of the occupier," said Sadr MP Saleh al-Igaili.

"The Sadrists condemn the barbaric action and hold the Iraqi government and the occupier responsible for the attack.

"The occupier's declaration that it killed 49 criminals is a lie. The occupier's forces actually killed only 10 and wounded 62, but most of them were children and women," he said.

US forces have welcomed the Sadr freeze but continue to target fighters who it says have broken away from the main Mahdi Army and formed special groups allegedly aided by Iran.

The US military also said troops detained on Sunday two Mahdi Army militants in Baghdad's Habibiyah neighbourhood who are accused of "conducting criminal activity" despite Sadr's freeze. A third was killed.

One of the detainees allegedly runs "three extremist groups and killed 20 civilians in an attack last month and in another attack raped five young girls", the military added.