Iraqi puppets tugging at their strings

[bigtree]

Iraqis: U.S. shares blame for death toll

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA,
Associated Press WriterWed
Jul 19, 2:22 PM ET

Iraqi officials said Wednesday that U.S. and coalition forces as well as an increase in sectarian violence were behind the surge in civilian casualties cited in a U.N. report.

However, deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zubaie blamed U.S. and other coalition forces for much of the violence, saying their troops were responsible for about half the deaths due to "raids, shootings and clashes with insurgents."

"They came to protect the people and democracy and all the problems we have today are because of them. It is a loss for Iraq," said al-Zubaie, a Sunni Muslim.

According to the U.N. report, 2,669 civilians were killed in May and 3,149 were killed in June. Those numbers combined two counts: from the Ministry of Health, which records deaths reported by hospitals; and the Medico-Legal Institute in Baghdad, which tallies the unidentified bodies it receives.

According to an Associated Press tally, at least 1,511 civilians were killed in May and June.


report: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060719/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_civilians

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. Salam al-Zubaie; remember that name.

>>>>Prime Minister Salam al-Zubaie blamed U.S. and other coalition forces for much of the violence, saying their troops were responsible for about half the deaths due to "raids, shootings and clashes with insurgents.">>>>

It will be interesting to see how long he lasts a DEP. PM before he is 'reshuffled' into oblivion.