Irish Red Cross urges US to improve Iraqi security

The Irish Red Cross has called on the United States to make a greater effort to protect civilians and humanitarian aid workers in Iraq.

The organisation said that, under the Geneva Convention, the US military, as the occupying power in Iraq, is responsible for the security of non-combatants.

Yesterday, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced a reduction in its presence in Iraq due to security fears following last week's bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.

David Andrews, the chairman of the Irish Red Cross, said: "We had information that the humanitarian community in particular, including the Red Cross, would be at risk if they remained on in great numbers."