Iraq calls for independent inquiry into US murder claims
The uncle of the girl who allegedly was raped before she and her family were killed said the family didn’t believe Americans were involved until the US military announced an investigation last week.
Ahmed Taha said neighbours initially said they thought insurgents had killed Abeer Qassim Hamza, along with her father, mother and a younger sister.
He said he arrived at the scene about four hours after the rape-murder occurred on March 12 and found Abeer’s body burned and her mother, Fikhriya Taha, her father, Qassim Hamza, and her younger sister Hadeel Qassim Hamza shot dead.
FBI documents have estimated the rape victim was about 25, but Ahmed Taha said his niece was 15.
He said Iraqi police were informed and came with US troops to take the bodies to the American base. The family retrieved the bodies at the base the next day.
“Nobody knew who killed them,” he said.
“Some said it was insurgents, and in fact, we ruled out the American troops until the US investigation was announced on Friday.”
He said neighbours of the family had seen the US soldiers at the time of the crime, but did not come forward until the investigation.
“They were afraid of telling the truth, really, we were surprised by this news.”
Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki called on the Iraqi Government, the UN and human rights organisations to investigate the killings.
He said their immunity from prosecution in Iraq has encouraged atrocities.
“We believe that the immunity given to members of coalition forces encouraged them to commit such crimes in cold blood (and) that makes it necessary to review it,” he told reporters during a visit to Kuwait.
Former Army Private Steve Green was charged with rape and four counts of murder on Monday in federal court in Charlotte, North Carolina.
At least four other US soldiers still in Iraq are under investigation.
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