Shiite Militants Turn Hospitals into 'Execution Houses'

[ECH1969]

Even hospitals, the only places in Iraq people could still feel some sense of security, are now being transformed into “execution houses” for Shiite militants.

The Washington Post wrote that Health Ministry hospitals have become the target of the Mahdi Army, militants loyal to Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr.

The newspaper based its news on the statements of Iraqi government authorities, patients, relatives of victims and hospital doctors, and added that citizens were refusing to seek medical assistance at these hospitals, regardless of their illness or injuring, fearing that they could be killed.

The newspaper said it was difficult to gather accurate statistics of the number of loses due to the sectarian struggle in the country.

http://www.zaman.com/?bl=international&alt=&hn=36161