BAGHDAD, Iraq March 28 —
Iraq claimed Friday that coalition forces attacked civilian areas
throughout Iraq and had killed 75 and injured 290, while Iraqi
forces killed four U.S. soldiers near the southern city of
Najaf.
Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf said the casualty
figures were for action Thursday. He also told reporters in Baghdad
that coalition leaders should be tried for war crimes for their
repeated attacks on public buildings.
"The Americans and the British have repeated that they target
government buildings like there aren't humans in government
buildings ... as if government buildings have no link to civilians,"
he said.
The minister also denounced speculation that the Iraqi forces
would use chemical weapons speculation that arose after advancing
coalition forces found chemical weapons suits and gas masks left
behind by soldiers in retreat.
He said having such equipment was standard procedure for any
army, including those of Britain and the United States.
He argued that coalition troops may use such weapons in
desperation.
"We do not rule out that the American and British aggressors, as
a result of strong frustration and defeat because of the great
resistance that is increasing day by day ... that they will become
hysterical," he said. "They possess all kinds of weapons of mass
destruction. It is possible they will commit a lot of follies."
Sahhaf said Iraqi forces struck and destroyed or damaged 33
American or British vehicles, including 12 battle tanks and the
vehicle of the commander of the convoy. He said four soldiers died
in the convoy attack near Najaf.
One tank hit by an rocket-propelled grenade fired by a peasant.
Another peasant shot down a helicopter, he said.
Sahhaf described Richard Perle's resignation as chairman of the
Pentagon advisory group as an indication of divisions and disputes
among U.S. military planners. Perle, 61, had been a vocal advocate
of going to war against Iraq.
Sahhaf called Perle as "Zionist donkey."
photo credit
and caption:
Soldiers of the British 17 Port
and Maritime Regiment inspect a train carriage for damages in
the port of Umm Qasr, southern Iraq, in this picture from
March 27, made available Friday March 28, 2003. (AP Photo/Alan
Evans/POOL)
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