Two children shot dead by US troops
There are reports that two children were shot dead by US Marines in the southern Iraqi town of Nasiriya when the driver of the vehicle the youngsters were travelling in ignored warnings to stop.
US forces in Iraq have been on high alert for suicide attacks after a third such bombing last night wounded four soldiers in Baghdad.
Captain Jay Delarosa, spokesman for the 15th US Marine Expeditionary Unit, said nine other people in the van had been wounded.
“Our Marines took action to protect themselves against what they thought was a suicide bomber,” he said, adding that the driver had ignored repeated warnings to stop.
“Currently, we are providing the best available medical assistance to those injured,” he said, adding that no weapons had been found in the vehicle. “It was a regrettable mistake.”
