US probe clears troops in Iraqi deaths in Ishaqi

WASHINGTON - A US military probe today cleared US troops of wrongdoing in a March raid in the Iraqi town of Ishaqi in which Iraqi civilians died, while Iraq's government sought US files on civilian deaths in Haditha in November.

The exoneration in the Ishaqi case came amid growing impatience from Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki over incidents involving civilian deaths. Many Iraqis believe unjustified killings by US troops are common, but few have been confirmed by official investigations.

Police in Ishaqi, 100 km north of Baghdad, said in March that six adults and five children were shot dead in the US raid on a home on March 15.

Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, a senior US military spokesman in Iraq, said in today's statement an inquiry showed that four bodies, including that of a guerrilla, were found after the raid.

It added that as many as nine "collateral deaths" resulted from the raid, but said a precise death toll could not be determined because of collapsed walls and debris.

"The investigation revealed the ground force commander, while capturing and killing terrorists, operated in accordance with the rules of engagement governing our combat forces in Iraq," Caldwell said.

In Baghdad, Maliki said his government will ask the United States for the files of another investigation into allegations US Marines killed two dozen Iraqi civilians in Haditha. US defence officials have said murder charges may be brought against Marines.

Standing beside US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad during a visit to a new Baghdad power plant, Maliki said he first heard of the alleged November 19 massacre through the media.

"I hope it (the US investigation) will be fair for the sake of all the victims," said the Shiite Islamist, whose government of national unity was sworn in 13 days ago.

Asked if he would demand the files, Maliki told reporters without elaborating: "Yes."

Asked if the United States would hand over the files, Khalilzad said a meeting about Haditha would be held with the top US commander in Iraq, Army Gen. George Casey.

US House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert said in a news conference with Maliki: "We are concerned that wrong was done. And if in fact evidence shows there was wrong done people will be punished and America will offer its deepest apologies."

Hastert, a Republican, headed a visiting delegation.

On the Ishaqi incident, military officials described a night-time raid aimed at finding a specific guerrilla, who then fled the building but was later caught. Another guerrilla who fired from the building was killed in the raid, they said.

"The forces, upon arrival, began taking direct fire from the building. As the enemy fire persisted, the ground force commander appropriately reacted by incrementally escalating the use of force from small arms fire to rotary wing aviation, and then to close air support, ultimately eliminating the threat," Caldwell said.

"Allegations that the troops executed a family living in this safe house, and then hid the alleged crimes by directing an air strike, are absolutely false," Caldwell said.

Police in Ishaqi have said five children, four women and two men were shot dead by troops in a house that was then blown up.

A senior Iraqi police officer said autopsies showed each had been shot in the head.

Television footage showed the bodies in the Tikrit morgue. Their wounds were not clear, but one infant had a gaping head wound.

Describing that day, Ibrahim Khalaf told Reuters Television US troops attacked his brother Faez's house before raiding his own home. Death certificates from the hospital where the victims were taken said they died of gunshot wounds.

"They started shooting in the air before entering the house. This process lasted for about 20 minutes and after that they entered the house and started shooting inside it," he said.

"After that, they raided my house, binding my hands and blindfolding me. They gathered my family members in one room. One of the soldiers told them (his colleagues) to kill them (my family) all. But thank God they did not."

In another probe, US military prosecutors were expected to charge seven Marines and a Navy corpsman in the killing of an Iraqi civilian, defence lawyer David Brahms, who represents two of the Americans, said yesterday.

The eight men are being held in the brig at Camp Pendleton, California, in connection with the April 26 killing of a Hamandiya man and a subsequent attempt to make him look like an insurgent by placing an AK-47 rifle near his body.

Maliki also suggested he was prepared to launch an offensive against al Qaeda militants and other insurgents in the western city of Ramadi if necessary.

- REUTERS