US helicopter shot down

FALLUJAH – An Army Apache attack helicopter was shot down yesterday, the third downed in less than two weeks, though the crew escaped unharmed.

In Baghdad, US troops reacting after a deadly roadside bomb shot at a car, killing its Iraqi driver and a 10-year-old boy, relatives said. Ukrainian troops opened fire to disperse the a crowd of several hundred protesters in the southeastern Shi’ite Muslim city of Kut demanding jobs.

One man was killed and two other people, including a woman, were injured in the second straight day of violent protests in Kut.

In the volatile town of Fallujah, north of the capital, hundreds of Iraqis protested in the streets, shouting “Bush, you coward!” after US troops detained a young woman while searching for a Saddam Hussein loyalist.

The woman, who relatives acknowledged was handled only by female soldiers, was released after several hours questioning.

The American AH-64 helicopter gunship was shot down near the town of Habbaniyah, in a western region near where a medevac helicopter was downed yesterday, killing all nine soldiers on board.

A Kiowa Warrior helicopter was shot down in the area on January 2, killing the pilot.

The AH-64’s two-person crew was unhurt, and the US military secured the area, military spokesman Colonel William Darley said.

“It was apparently downed by enemy fire,” he said.

Habbaniyah is 20 km from Fallujah, in the so-called ‘Sunni Triangle’, north and west of the capital, a region that has been the centre of guerrilla attacks on American forces.

In Baghdad, the shooting took place on Monday at a checkpoint – the latest in a growing number of cases of civilians being shot by US soldiers nearing the end of their tour before a massive rotation begins next month.

A roadside bomb went off near the checkpoint, hitting a US Humvee and killing a soldier.

Soldiers in another Humvee started shooting, hitting a car carrying the civilian family, said Wijdan Abdel Wahab, aunt of the slain boy.

The boy, 10-year-old Mustafa Jamal Shaikhly, and the family driver, identified only as Haider, were killed, Abdel Wahab said.

Mustafa’s 30-year-old mother and another aunt were seriously wounded, she said.

Also in the car were the slain boy’s eight-year-old son and six-year-old daughter, who suffered minor cuts.

“The Americans have ruined an innocent family, children and women,” Abdel Wahab said, distraught and weeping at the hospital.

“They didn’t even bother to look back at them after shooting them”.

She said the family is fed up with the situation and wants to “leave Iraq because of the Americans and the (US-installed) Governing Council”.

The US military did not confirm any of the civilian casualties.

The soldier who died in the bomb blast was the 495th American killed in Iraq, according to official sources.

The military is investigating another apparent shooting of civilians by Americans – four Iraqi civilians, including a seven-year-old boy, killed in a taxi near Tikrit on January 3.

Local commander Lt Col Steve Russell said yesterday it was “likely” they were shot by coalition forces.

The detention of a 17-year-old woman sparked outrage in Fallujah, a stridently anti-American city.

Fallujah residents, like many in the Sunni Triangle, are religiously conservative and equate a woman’s dignity with family honour.

Hundreds of people poured into the streets of Fallujah on Monday night after hearing the news and continued demonstrating yesterday, shouting “Bush, you coward!” and “Release our woman!” They dispersed without incident by noon.

Relatives said the woman, who was married six days ago, was alone at home Monday when she was taken away by US troops and kept in custody for five hours before being freed unharmed.

“The girl was alone so they took her because they know our weakness.

When they take our honour they know we will come to them,” said Maher Turki, the brother of the woman’s husband.

– Nampa-AP

Ukrainian troops opened fire to disperse the a crowd of several hundred protesters in the southeastern Shi’ite Muslim city of Kut demanding jobs. One man was killed and two other people, including a woman, were injured in the second straight day of violent protests in Kut. In the volatile town of Fallujah, north of the capital, hundreds of Iraqis protested in the streets, shouting “Bush, you coward!” after US troops detained a young woman while searching for a Saddam Hussein loyalist. The woman, who relatives acknowledged was handled only by female soldiers, was released after several hours questioning. The American AH-64 helicopter gunship was shot down near the town of Habbaniyah, in a western region near where a medevac helicopter was downed yesterday, killing all nine soldiers on board. A Kiowa Warrior helicopter was shot down in the area on January 2, killing the pilot. The AH-64’s two-person crew was unhurt, and the US military secured the area, military spokesman Colonel William Darley said. “It was apparently downed by enemy fire,” he said. Habbaniyah is 20 km from Fallujah, in the so-called ‘Sunni Triangle’, north and west of the capital, a region that has been the centre of guerrilla attacks on American forces. In Baghdad, the shooting took place on Monday at a checkpoint – the latest in a growing number of cases of civilians being shot by US soldiers nearing the end of their tour before a massive rotation begins next month. A roadside bomb went off near the checkpoint, hitting a US Humvee and killing a soldier. Soldiers in another Humvee started shooting, hitting a car carrying the civilian family, said Wijdan Abdel Wahab, aunt of the slain boy. The boy, 10-year-old Mustafa Jamal Shaikhly, and the family driver, identified only as Haider, were killed, Abdel Wahab said. Mustafa’s 30-year-old mother and another aunt were seriously wounded, she said. Also in the car were the slain boy’s eight-year-old son and six-year-old daughter, who suffered minor cuts. “The Americans have ruined an innocent family, children and women,” Abdel Wahab said, distraught and weeping at the hospital. “They didn’t even bother to look back at them after shooting them”. She said the family is fed up with the situation and wants to “leave Iraq because of the Americans and the (US-installed) Governing Council”. The US military did not confirm any of the civilian casualties. The soldier who died in the bomb blast was the 495th American killed in Iraq, according to official sources. The military is investigating another apparent shooting of civilians by Americans – four Iraqi civilians, including a seven-year-old boy, killed in a taxi near Tikrit on January 3. Local commander Lt Col Steve Russell said yesterday it was “likely” they were shot by coalition forces. The detention of a 17-year-old woman sparked outrage in Fallujah, a stridently anti-American city. Fallujah residents, like many in the Sunni Triangle, are religiously conservative and equate a woman’s dignity with family honour. Hundreds of people poured into the streets of Fallujah on Monday night after hearing the news and continued demonstrating yesterday, shouting “Bush, you coward!” and “Release our woman!” They dispersed without incident by noon. Relatives said the woman, who was married six days ago, was alone at home Monday when she was taken away by US troops and kept in custody for five hours before being freed unharmed. “The girl was alone so they took her because they know our weakness. When they take our honour they know we will come to them,” said Maher Turki, the brother of the woman’s husband. – Nampa-AP