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02/04/2003
US missile debris found at scene of civilian tragedy
Veteran Independent columnist Robert Fisk has claimed to have found evidence proving that the US was responsible for Friday's bombing of a Baghdad marketplace in which 62 people died – and not Iraqi forces as has been suggested.
According to the Independent report, debris from the blast area contained a tail fin from the missile which had a code indicating it was manufactured by Raytheon in Texas. Friday's explosion was preceded by a similar explosion last Wednesday in Baghdad in which 14 Iraqis died.
However, both US and British government spokesmen have suggested that the Iraqi military targeted the marketplace to create anti-Coalition feeling.
In a speech to the Newspaper Society Annual Conference yesterday, the Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said it was "increasingly probable" that Wednesday's bombing was "the result of Iraqi – not coalition – action".
Asked to clarify Mr Straw's comments, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesperson said that the government believed there was evidence to show that "the culprit was an Iraqi aircraft defence missile".
He added: "We also had our suspicions about the second (Friday's) bomb attack. However, because we were not there on the ground, we were unable to be 100% certain."
(GMcG)
According to the Independent report, debris from the blast area contained a tail fin from the missile which had a code indicating it was manufactured by Raytheon in Texas. Friday's explosion was preceded by a similar explosion last Wednesday in Baghdad in which 14 Iraqis died.
However, both US and British government spokesmen have suggested that the Iraqi military targeted the marketplace to create anti-Coalition feeling.
In a speech to the Newspaper Society Annual Conference yesterday, the Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said it was "increasingly probable" that Wednesday's bombing was "the result of Iraqi – not coalition – action".
Asked to clarify Mr Straw's comments, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesperson said that the government believed there was evidence to show that "the culprit was an Iraqi aircraft defence missile".
He added: "We also had our suspicions about the second (Friday's) bomb attack. However, because we were not there on the ground, we were unable to be 100% certain."
(GMcG)
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