US marines kill two children at checkpoint

TWO Iraqi children were killed and nine other civilians injured yesterday when US marines opened fire on a minibus approaching a checkpoint.

It happened at about 6.30am in the southern Iraq town of Nassiriya.

The vehicle sped towards the checkpoint on a bridge over a river to the north of the town and showed no signs of stopping, a US Marines spokesman said.

Marines signalled for the driver to slow down and opened fire when the minibus continued towards them.

The spokesman said the killings were a “regrettable mistake” but said troops had feared a suicide bomb attack.

BBC reporter Adam Mynott, in Nassiriya, said he had been told by a US marine the vehicle “appeared to be going more quickly as it came to a chicane in front of the checkpoint”.

An investigation is now under way.

British and US forces remain on high alert for suicide attacks after four US marines were injured after a suicide bomber detonated explosives at a checkpoint in Baghdad.