American soldiers shot dead seven women and children yesterday when their car failed to stop at a checkpoint in southern Iraq, US military officials said last night.
The incident on Route Nine, near the southern city of Najaf, was the worst single case of civilian deaths in the war that US forces have so far admitted.
Yesterday’s shooting came after soldiers were ordered to be more cautious at checkpoints following a suicide car bomb attack on a check post on Saturday, which killed four US troops.
In the incident yesterday the car carrying 13 Iraqi women and children approached a military checkpoint at 4.30pm, which was manned by soldiers from the US 3rd Infantry Division. A US military representative at central command in Qatar said. ”The soldiers motioned for the vehicle to stop but the motions were ignored.”
”Then the soldiers fired warning shots which were also ignored. The soldiers then fired shots into the engine of the vehicle but it continued to drive towards the checkpoint.
”As a last resort the soldiers fired into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.”
After the shooting the soldiers inspected the car and found the only passengers were women and children. Seven were dead, two were injured and four were unharmed, the representative said.
An investigation has been launched into the incident and the results would eventually be made public, he said.
But he said that the soldiers at the checkpoint appeared to be acting within their orders.
”Initial reports indicate that the soldiers responded within the rules of engagement to protect themselves in light of recent terrorist attacks by the Iraqi regime,” the representative said. He appeared to be referring to the car bomb on Saturday at another checkpoint.
”The soldiers exercised considerable restraint to avoid loss of life,” he added. ”Because we want to do as thorough and careful an investigation as possible, this thing will take time.”
There was no suggestion any weapons or explosives were found in the car and the investigation is likely to centre on whether or not the driver of the car understood the soldiers’ orders to stop.
Senior generals at central command have said new orders were issued to troops after the weekend car bomb instructing them to ”stand off” from cars as they approached checkpoints. Several reports have suggested American soldiers have become increasingly wary of Iraqi civilians, because paramilitary forces have been fighting in civilian clothes or hiding behind crowds of civilians, particularly in towns. US officials have described these tactics as ”terrorism” and a violation of the Geneva convention on the rules of war.
With many troops jittery after an Iraqi suicide attack, US officers say they are being especially careful as they make contact with civilians whose political loyalties are unclear.
”A civilian is always a threat until proven innocent,” Lieutenant Jason Davis of the 101st Airborne Division told Reuters.
”This is combat. We are in a hostile country. Even if we are sitting on a corner and eating food, this is still combat.”
In the small town of Kifl, where hundreds of Iraqis were killed in street fighting this week, wary US troops fanned out to do house-to-house searches.
Civilians and US soldiers eyed each other warily around town. The Iraqis waved white flags or held up their hands when they ventured out for water or to check on their families. Troops found rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47 assault rifles in many homes in Kifl, but the combatants had melted away. Two prisoners were captured without a fight.
Many Iraqis are deeply suspicious of what is an invading force. ”The Iraqis do not love foreigners coming to our country with their guns,” said Nasir Hasnawi, a middle-aged man who said he had fled his home in Baghdad to stay with relatives only to find this town rocked by clashes.
”They say they will leave when they change the government, but we do not believe them. I think they want our oil.” – Guardian Unlimited Â