Hrw: Iraq:icivilian deaths need US.investigation

"ItÕs a tragedy that U.S. soldiers have killed so many civilians in Baghdad. But itÕs really incredible that the U.S. military does not even count these deaths. Any time U.S. forces kill an Iraqi civilian in questionable circumstances, they should investigate the incident."

Joe Stork, acting executive director of the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch said about the 56-page report, Hearts and Minds: Post-War Civilian Casualties in Baghdad by U.S. Forces, confirming twenty deaths in the Iraqi capital alone between May 1 and September 30.

In total, Human Rights Watch "collected credible reports of 94 civilian deaths in Baghdad, involving questionable legal circumstances that warrant investigation. This number does not include civilians wounded by U.S. troops. The precise number of Iraqi civilians killed by U.S. soldiers since the end of major military operations is unknown, and the U.S. military told Human Rights Watch that it keeps no statistics on civilian deaths," the organization said.

"Thus far, the military says it has concluded only five investigations above the division level, ordered by the deputy commanding general, into alleged unlawful deaths. Of these, soldiers were found to have operated 'within the rules of engagement' in four cases. In the fifth case, a helicopter pilot and his commander face disciplinary action for trying to tear down a Shiaa banner in Sadr City in Baghdad, an incident that provoked a violent clash with demonstrators on August 13, the organization reported.

"Human Rights Watch conducted its own investigation of two of these five cases, and found evidence to suggest that soldiers had used excessive force, including shooting a person who had his hands in the air and beating a detainee, the organization said.

HRW concluded that . "military authorities should investigate all credible allegations of unlawful killings by coalition soldiers, and punish soldiers and commanders found to have used or tolerated the use of excessive or indiscriminate force. "