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Iraqis blame U.S. for massacre of children
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-10-02 22:17 Families of the 35 children
who died in a string of bombings in Baghdad blamed American troops for the
tragedy, accusing them of attracting insurgents to a ceremony where the attacks
occurred.
An unidentified
mother waits by her daughter's bedside after two car bombs and a roadside
bomb went off in succession at al-Amel neighborhood of Baghdad, Iraq,
Thursday, Sept. 30, 2004. At least 37 were killed, of which 34 are
children and nearly 137 got wounded in the attack.
[AP] | By Friday, tents had sprung up in the
el-Amel neighborhood in Baghdad to accommodate mourners who gathered to share
their grief from the Thursday attack. In the carnage, several explosions ripped
into a crowd gathered to celebrate the inauguration of a new, much needed sewage
plant.
Residents said that before the start of the celebration, U.S. soldiers called
upon the children through loudspeakers to join the crowd, promising them sweets.
There were an unusually large number around because the long school holidays
were nearing an end.
"I blame the Americans for this tragedy. They wanted to make human shields
out of our children. They should have kept the children away from danger," said
Abdel-Hadi al-Badri, a cleric a the al-Mubashroun al-Ashra mosque, breaking down
in tears during Friday prayers.
Al-Badri's son lost his right leg in the explosion after he ignored his
father's warnings to stay away from the U.S. troops.
"The Americans are the first terrorists and the people who carried out the
attack are the second terrorists," he added. It was the largest number of
children killed in any single insurgent attack since the conflict erupted 17
months ago.
Al-Badri's is a common lament here. Confronted by daily bombings,
kidnappings, deadly crossfires and soaring violent crime, many Iraqis blame most
of their ills on the Americans. Many say that they and their children would not
be dying today had the U.S. not invaded their country 17 months ago.
About 100 yards from the site of two of the three explosions, a large red and
yellow tent was filled with mourners for two sisters, Raghad Dharar, 12, and
Meisoun Dharar,10, who were killed as they returned from a nearby market.
"The day before yesterday, I bought them new school dresses and I was
planning to buy them shoes. I did not know that they were not going ever to
attend again," the father said.
Dharar Ahmed, a policeman, said that there was no reason to stage a large
celebration for a small sewage plant that was already partially operating.
"The Americans were attracting the children by offering sweets. They should
not have done this," he said amid the sounds of wailing women.
Troops are frequently approached by Iraqi children asking for candy, pens and
other handouts, and the soldiers often oblige, either because they hope to win
some hearts and minds or simply because the youngsters are appealing or clearly
impoverished.
In another tent, Najam Hussein was weeping over his child Ali Najam who was
killed in the explosion minutes after he joined the celebration.
Hussein, who sells chandeliers, said nobody in the neighborhood had expecting
the tragedy that scythed down so many innocent children.
"Blaming any party will not bring back my dead son. It seems that 25 million
people will die before the democracy is achieved in this country," he
said.
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