US Probes Killing of Iraqi by Marines
Reuters
Sunday 21 August 2005
Baghdad - The U.S. military said on Sunday it had opened a criminal investigation into the killing by U.S. Marines of a relative of Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations.
A statement from the military said the commanding general of the II Marine Expeditionary Force had referred the case of the death of Mohammed al-Sumaida'ie to the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service for further investigation.
"At the conclusion of the investigation, a report will be provided to the command for review and further action as appropriate," the statement said.
Mohammed al-Sumaida'ie, the son of ambassador Samir al- Sumaida'ie's first cousin, was shot dead near Haditha, western Iraq, as Marines were searching his family's home on June 25.
In July, ambassador Sumaida'ie, who has been Iraq's representative at the United Nations since last year, accused U.S. troops of killing his 21-year-old relative, an engineering student, "in cold blood" and demanded a full inquiry.
Sumaida'ie said at the time the ramifications of what he called a "serious crime" were enormous for the United States and Iraq. U.S. officials promised a thorough investigation.
The U.S. military has been accused many times since the 2003 Iraq invasion of killing innocent Iraqis in house raids or at roadblocks.
The military says its troops do everything they can to minimize civilian casualties and exercise restraint at all times.
Following complaints, some investigations have been launched and U.S. troops have been convicted of wrongful deaths. But Iraqis say it is often very difficult to get the military to open investigations.
Link Here
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Sunday 21 August 2005
Baghdad - The U.S. military said on Sunday it had opened a criminal investigation into the killing by U.S. Marines of a relative of Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations.
A statement from the military said the commanding general of the II Marine Expeditionary Force had referred the case of the death of Mohammed al-Sumaida'ie to the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service for further investigation.
"At the conclusion of the investigation, a report will be provided to the command for review and further action as appropriate," the statement said.
Mohammed al-Sumaida'ie, the son of ambassador Samir al- Sumaida'ie's first cousin, was shot dead near Haditha, western Iraq, as Marines were searching his family's home on June 25.
In July, ambassador Sumaida'ie, who has been Iraq's representative at the United Nations since last year, accused U.S. troops of killing his 21-year-old relative, an engineering student, "in cold blood" and demanded a full inquiry.
Sumaida'ie said at the time the ramifications of what he called a "serious crime" were enormous for the United States and Iraq. U.S. officials promised a thorough investigation.
The U.S. military has been accused many times since the 2003 Iraq invasion of killing innocent Iraqis in house raids or at roadblocks.
The military says its troops do everything they can to minimize civilian casualties and exercise restraint at all times.
Following complaints, some investigations have been launched and U.S. troops have been convicted of wrongful deaths. But Iraqis say it is often very difficult to get the military to open investigations.
Link Here
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posted by Kangaroo Brisbane Australia at 6:50 AM
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