Iraqi woman killed in pre-dawn US raid - Two Iraqi commanders arrested for allowing US assault [View All]

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BAGHDAD (AP) — A deadly pre-dawn raid by U.S. forces that killed a woman in southern Iraq on Sunday drew sharp fallout from Iraqi authorities who demanded an investigation and ordered the arrest of two high-ranking Iraqi military officers for allegedly allowing the operation without Baghdad's approval.

At least one person died in the raid, which the U.S. military said targeted the financier of Shiite militia factions believed to be aided by the Iranians. Iraqi officials placed the death toll at two.

But the larger issues could be over possible violations of an agreement that took effect Jan. 1 and governs the responsibilities and actions of U.S. forces. Under the pact, the U.S. military has to advise Iraqi authorities on operations or work in joint U.S.-Iraq units.

The Defense Ministry spokesman, Mohammed al Askari, said an Iraqi brigade commander and a battalion commander were arrested for "allowing American troops to conduct a military operation in Kut province without informing Iraqi government or coordinating with it."


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Anger at deadly U.S. military raid in southern Iraq

26 Apr 2009 13:42:51 GMT
Reuters

BASRA, Iraq, April 26 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Iraqis protested against U.S. forces on Sunday after U.S. soldiers killed a man and a woman in an overnight raid that was condemned by the provincial governor.

As a funeral procession made its way through Kut carrying the cloth-draped coffins of the two people killed in the raid, protesters shouted angry slogans and demanded the release of the seized men, calling Americans "criminal occupiers."

"We condemn this horrific incident. It violates the agreements between U.S. forces and the Iraqi government," said Latif al-Tarfa, governor of Wasit province. "Innocent people were killed and the city is now very tense."

. . . Major Aziz al-Amara, who commands a rapid reaction force in Kut, said all of those targeted in the raid were innocent. One of those arrested was a police captain.

"They were poor people. They do not cause any political or security problems," he said.


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