Observatory urges probe into U.S. “assaults” on civilians

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: More than 45 persons have been killed by U.S. fire since the implementation of the Iraqi security agreement with Washington, the Iraqi Constitutional Rights and Freedoms Observatory said on Monday, calling for an immediate probe into all “assaults” on civilians. “Despite the signing of the security agreement between Iraq and the United States and its coming into effect in early 2009, violations and transgressions by these forces continue against innocent civilians…,” according to a statement released by the observatory and received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “Statistics reveal an increase in these assaults since January 1, 2009,” the statement noted. At least 45 were killed and 15 others, mostly civilians, were wounded in the provinces of Baghdad, Ninewa, al-Qadissiya, Babel, Kirkuk, Missan, Anbar, Diala, and Salah al-Din, the statement noted. The observatory called on concerned bodies to conduct an investigation into all “assaults” and to pay compensation for those violations. A local security source had said that U.S. forces raided a house in 14 Tammuz neighborhood, central Kut, during the early hours of Sunday (April 26), killing a man and his sister-in-law and arresting four other family members. SS (S) 1