Iraq Denies Casualties in Iranian Opposition Camp Clashes
By VOA News
29 July 2009
Iraqi government officials are denying that security forces killed Iranian exiles when seizing control of their camp north of Baghdad.
But residents of Camp Ashraf, which is home to the exiled Iranian opposition group Mojahedin-e Khalq, say Iraqi police killed at least seven people when they took control of the compound Tuesday.
Witnesses said at least 400 people were wounded in the raid, including many who were beaten by security forces. Residents have released video footage of the wounded and photos of people with visible gunshot wounds, but the authenticity of the evidence has not been verified.
Iraqi officials had said they would close Camp Ashraf after taking control of security around the facility from U.S. forces in January.
The top U.S. commander in Iraq, General Ray Odierno, said the Iraqi government did not tell U.S. officials in advance of its plans to raid Camp Ashraf.
In Washington, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday it is trying to ensure that Iraq is keeping its word to treat residents humanely.
The camp houses 3,500 members of the group Mojahedin-e Khalq, or People's Mojahedin. Members of the group fought alongside Iraq during its war with Iran and also are accused of helping former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein repress his opponents inside Iraq.
Iraq, Iran and the U.S. consider the People's Mojahedin a terrorist group. The European Union removed the group from its list of terrorist organizations earlier this year.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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