Amnesty Demands US for Inquiry into Iraqi Civilian Killing

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 02, 2003

Amnesty Demands US for Inquiry into Iraqi Civilian Killing

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The London-based Amnesty International on Tuesday urged the United States to start an independent and thorough inquiry into the killing of seven women and children at a US military checkpoint at Najaf, 150 kilometers south of Iraq.

"US authorities must conduct an independent and thorough investigation into an attack yesterday (Monday) on a civilian vehicle that resulted in the deaths of seven women and children," said a press release issued by the human rights watchdog.

"Anyone suspected of unlawfully killing civilians must be brought to justice," it read.

"The military must implement measures that will safeguard the lives of civilians and other noncombatants and ensure that incidents like this are never repeated," it noted.

The group's remarks came as General Richard Myers, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, Tuesday expressed his regrets to shooting in the day.

"I'd like to express our regrets to the families of the Iraqiskilled yesterday at the checkpoint near Al Najaf. The loss of any innocent life is truly tragic," he said.

On Monday afternoon, in the desert near the town of Najaf, seven Iraqi women and children huddled in a car died in a hail of US bullets certain to fuel anti-American sentiment through the Arab world.

According to the figure from the Iraqi government, at least 653Iraqi civilians have been killed since the US and British troops launched the war against Iraq on March 20.

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