Hundreds in Ramadi protest policeman killing by U.S. soldier

[sabra]

Source: Voice of Iraq

Anbar, Dec 21, (VOI) – Hundreds of people in al-Anbar staged a demonstration in front of a U.S. forces headquarters north of Ramadi on Thursday to protest the killing of an Iraqi policeman stabbed by a U.S. soldier in a quarrel on Wednesday.

"About 400 protesters in the area of al-Jazira, (4 km) northeastern Ramadi, demanded a trial of the U.S. soldier in accordance with the Iraqi law for stabbing an Iraqi policeman in a joint checkpoint to death on Wednesday evening," a police officer in Ramadi, who declined to have his name mentioned, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The protesters started their march from the house of the policeman during his funeral and then assembled in front of a U.S. headquarters, chanting slogans condemning the "criminal" killing of the policeman, the source said.

The demonstration lasted for about 20 minutes and then mourners marched towards the cemetery to bury the Iraqi policeman, he added.
"The victim's family has lodged a complaint with the local council in Ramadi and called for an immediate trial of the U.S. soldier commensurate with the Iraqi law," the source said.
No comment was made by the U.S. army on the incident nor reaction to the angry protests by the local residents in Ramadi.

Read more: http://www.aswataliraq.info/look/english/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=4&NrArticle=63638&NrIssue=2&NrSection=1

---

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/world/worldspecial/20iraq.html?ref=world

U.S. Investigating Marine in Iraqi Policeman’s Death

BAGHDAD — A United States marine is at the center of an American military investigation into the death on Monday of an Iraqi policeman from what appears to have been a knife fight between the men at a base jointly staffed by American and Iraqi forces in Anbar Province, a military spokesman said.

The incident is an embarrassment for the United States military, which has praised Anbar as a model for Sunni tribes and American soldiers cooperating to fight fundamentalist groups like Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, the homegrown militant group that United States intelligence officials say is led by foreigners. The death has provoked local anger and demands for legal action.

Maj. Jeff Pool, an American military spokesman in Iraq, confirmed that Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents “are currently investigating the death of an Iraqi policeman and the wounding of a U.S. marine while on duty at a joint security station north of Ramadi in the early morning of Dec. 17.”

While emphasizing that the investigation is still “in the initial stages,” Major Pool said that “the incident appears to have resulted from an argument escalating into a physical altercation.” In e-mailed responses to questions on Wednesday night, he said the marine and Iraqi policeman each received “knife wounds.” The policeman “died from his wounds,” Major Pool said, and the marine was eventually taken to a military hospital for treatment, though his wounds were not life-threatening.

[Stuart G]

1. Last time I checked...it's war... stupid.

Things happen..it's war. people die. it ain't a quiet game of tennis, or polo, or chess.

You know..I read once..that.......

this type of thing, is one of the reasons that war is always a last resort, the killing of people in innocent settings, for no reason..well sort of no reason..is why war is to be avoided..

I guess that is true..except when it is about oil...stupid.......

[gratuitous]

2. Why do the Iraqis hate the troops?

Exhibit 4,435,672 in a never-ending series.