US troops 'open fire on bus'

[Judi Lynn]

US troops 'open fire on bus'
29 April 2004
US troops opened fire on a minibus full of civilians near a checkpoint on the outskirts of the besieged Iraqi town of Fallujah, according to witnesses.

One report claims that four Iraqis were killed when soldiers opened fire on the minibus as it headed towards the town through an area where clashes had broken out between troops and insurgents.
(snip)

People had been leaving Falluja following US airstrikes on the town 30 miles west of Baghdad.

It was not immediately clear why the soldiers fired at the vehicle and the US military said it had yet to receive information on any incident in the area.
(snip/)

http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/10487703?source=Reuters

[gottaB]

1. Slightly different version

US troops fire on Iraqi bus at checkpoint: witness

The "Reuters witness" appears to be a police officer, Fouad al-Hamdani. Very interesting bias. Usually police officers are given more credibility, and since apparently many witnesses agree that the minibus was fired upon, why frame it that way? The uncertainties are how many people died of gunshot wounds, if any, how many were wounded, and what explanation if any will be offered for the shooting incident. That a bus was fired upon seems like a hard fact at this point.

[gottaB]

2. and again

U.S. Rushes Armor to Iraq, Falluja Siege Rumbles On

A Reuters journalist watched U.S. Marines open fire on a minibus at a checkpoint on the outskirts, setting the vehicle on fire. Up to four civilians died, a policeman said.

Incidents such as the checkpoint shooting, often relayed on Arab television, have bedeviled U.S. efforts to win over Iraqis, despite wide approval for toppling Saddam Hussein.

If I didn't know better, I'd say this story was being buried under a mountain of propaganda before it was even told.

On Edit: Spelling error.

[maddezmom]

3. buried

U.S. troops at the main checkpoint in and out of Fallujah opened fire on a car, killing several Iraqis but there were differing accounts of the circumstances of the attacks.


Marine Capt. James Edge said a car screeched into the razorwire near the main Marine checkpoint into Fallujah and gunmen inside opened fire with assault rifles on the Americans. U.S. troops returned fire with a Humvee-mounted heavy machine gun, killing at least three men in the car, Edge said. A fourth person was wounded but it was not clear if he was in the car or a bystander, Edge said.


An AP reporter, however, saw U.S. soldiers opened fire on a pickup truck at the checkpoint, killing a seven-member family that was trying to flee the city. It was not clear if the accounts referred to separate incidents.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20040429/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

[gottaB]

5. dead civilians here, dead civilians there

It's "perfectly right and proper" and Tony Blair sends his regrets, deep, deep regrets.

:mad:

[MaineDem]

4. Report from Aljazeera

US soldiers have fired on a minibus full of civilians near a checkpoint on the outskirts of the beseiged Iraqi town of Falluja.

Witnesses said a hail of bullets from occupation forces on Thursday turned the vehicle into a ball of fire.

Iraqi policeman Fuad al-Hamdani said four civilians were killed in the unprovoked attack.

People have been leaving Falluja following major US airstrikes on the town, 50km west of Baghdad.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/23DD393A-BEDC-42F0-ACB5-345FF690E4D8.htm

[John_H]

6. I this the bus the US media is saying hit a IED meant for a US convoy?

Jesus, what the fuck is going on over there?

[gottaB]

7. Not the same, evidently

the Reuters journalist reported seeing the Marines open fire on the minibus

[gottaB]

8. Will this story ever be investigated??

Another blurb out today, from the Guardian, Bombing goes on despite deal to end siege:

Yesterday refugees who have fled from Falluja after three nights of bombardment by US jet fighters described conditions inside the city as terrible.

"'There is no electricity. There is no water. There are no food supplies at all," said Abu Mohammad, who left Falluja yesterday. "The Americans are bombing civilians. When I was about to leave, US snipers shot two ladies dead. Their bodies are still on the street."

Yesterday US marines at a checkpoint opened fire on a minibus trying to leave Falluja, killing four civilians.

God, it just blurs.