Red Cross condemns Iraq abuses
/The International Red Cross has made an unprecedented appeal for
an end to human rights abuses in Iraq, saying it is 'deeply concerned'
at the impact of the fighting in the country and at apparent failures
by all sides in the conflict to respect humanitarian laws. 'As
hostilities continue in Falluja and elsewhere, every day seems to bring
news of yet another act of utter contempt for the most basic tenet of
humanity: the obligation to protect human life and dignity,' Pierre
Kraehenbuehl, the International Committee of the Red Cross operations
director, said. 'We are deeply concerned by the devastating impact that
the fighting in Iraq is having,' he said. Kraehenbuehl stressed that
international humanitarian law prohibits killing anyone who is not
actively taking part in combat - or has ceased to do so. Yesterday saw
another day of violence. In Falluja, where US Marines and soldiers are
still battling pockets of resistance, insurgents waved a white flag of
surrender before opening fire on US troops and causing a number of
casualties, Marine spokesman Lt. Lyle Gilbert said. US troops in the
northern city of Mosul found the bodies of nine Iraqi soldiers, all
shot in the back of the head. Seven of them were also decapitated. [more]
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