Civilians Killed In Air Strike, say Iraqi Police

[babylonsister]

Civilians Killed In Air Strike, say Iraqi Police


BAGHDAD-A U.S. warplane strafed a house in the southern city of Basra, killing eight civilians, including two women and a child, Iraqi police said Saturday.

The U.S. military had no immediate comment on the report, which came a day after the first American airstrikes were launched in Basra during a week-old offensive against militant followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Seven other people were wounded when the plane fired on a house in Basra’s Hananiyah neighbourhood overnight, a local policeman said on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

It was not immediately possible to independently verify whether those killed were civilians or combatants.

While the Iraqi police officer claimed it was a U.S. plane, British jets also have been providing air support in the area; it couldn’t be immediately confirmed whether the plane was British or American.

The British military had no immediate information but said it also was looking into the reports.

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http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/30/7984/