Death of Knight Ridder Reporter, Other Civilians in Iraq, Draws Official Criticism

By: E&P Staff Laith Kubba, a spokesman for the Iraqi government, yesterday criticized American troops for shooting and killing unarmed Iraqi civilians, citing the recent deaths of Yasser Salihee, a reporter for Knight Ridder, and Muhammad al-Sumaidaie, a cousin of Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations, Samir Sumaidaie.

The American military has said it is investigating both incidents. Knight Ridder has said that its reporter was likely shot by an American sniper.

Kubba also said Sunday, at a Baghdad press briefing, that some Iraqi security forces had been responsible for torturing and abusing prisoners.

Also on Sunday, the mother of Muhammad al-Sumaidaie gave an eyewitness account of how, she said, American Marines had entered her home on June 25 and killed her son. The New York Times reported the account on Monday:

"Shortly after 10 a.m., Marines entered the family home near the western town of Haditha to search for weapons, the mother, Sanaa Hashim Abdul Aziz, said. Muhammad, 21, an engineering student, took the marines into a bedroom to show them a Kalashnikov. 'A few minutes later, we heard a gunshot, the sound of a single bullet being fired,' Ms. Abdul Aziz said, her voice breaking.

"The marines then took Muhammad's brother, Ali, 17, into the room. Ali 'saw his brother lying in a pool of his blood,' she said. 'Ali was shocked to see his brother like that, and the Marines asked him to then pick up the weapon that was lying on the ground next to his brother. He refused, and they started beating and interrogating him.'

"The Marines left with the Kalashnikov and told neighbors they had killed a terrorist, Ms. Abdul Aziz said. The bullet that killed Muhammad had passed through his jaw, she added. Iraqi soldiers were standing outside the house but the marines did not let them enter, she said.

"Samir Sumaidaie, the ambassador to the United Nations, said in an e-mail interview that he had 'no idea whether the investigation is going to be serious or a whitewash,' but that he would insist on a 'credible, speedy and high-level inquiry that can be trusted to get at the truth.'"