Iraq

Families denounce US tank attack

Injured Iraqi civilians told today how the bus they were travelling on was attacked "without warning" by US troops.

Bassem Hawky, 38, told reporters he lost his right arm when a US tank fired on a bus carrying himself and his family earlier this week. Mr Hawky's 10-year-old son lost both arms in the alleged attack and is now fighting for his life.

He said his wife, mother and five children and about 20 other passengers were in the bus when it came under fire. They were on their way from Hillah in central Iraq to Najaf, where they live, after a visit to relatives.

"We saw a column of US tanks and when we got close to the first tank, which flew the American flag, it fired on us without any warning," he said, speaking at the Hillah Hospital where his son is in the intensive care unit.

"That Bush has no mercy, faith, or humanity," he said.

The Hawkys are among dozens of Iraq civilians whom medical personnel at Hillah Hospital say have been wounded or killed this week.

Dr Haidar Abbas Hantoush said 40 civilians have been killed and another 260 injured since Monday. All were victims of bombings of civilian areas by the allied forces, he said.

"So far we have no shortage of medical supplies, but if this continues for a few more days, we will run short of drugs, antibiotics and surgical instruments," he told The Associated Press.

The alleged attack on civilians came to light on Tuesday, when Iraqi officials said US Apache helicopters attacked a neighbourhood in Hillah - 55 miles south of Baghdad - killing 33 people.

The US Central Command in Doha, Qatar, said it was investigating the incident insisted no Apaches could have been involved.

Hillah, which lies on the Euphrates River near the ruins of ancient Babylon, is believed by the US-led coalition to be home to a camp for Saddam's Fedayeen, a loyalist militia used to combat internal unrest and, in recent days, harass American and British forces.

© 2003 Guardian