IRAQ: An unarmed Iraqi prisoner shot dead by a US marine in Falluja in an incident which has generated widespread controversy made no threatening movements before he was killed, a journalist who was at the scene said.
In his first account of the incident since his initial television report, NBC journalist Kevin Sites said on his website that at least two other prisoners appeared also to have been shot by marines. The US military says it has launched an investigation into the incident.
Last night the UK Ministry of Defence said an investigation had been launched after Black Watch soldiers shot dead a man they believe was a suicide bomber. The man was shot as he drove a car at speed towards a checkpoint.
Sites said 10 insurgents were killed and five wounded at the mosque on November 12th. The wounded were treated and left at the mosque to be transported to the rear later. The following day marines received a report that guerrillas had reoccupied the mosque. As they entered it, they found another marine squad already there.
Inside, he saw the 10 bodies left in the mosque the previous day. "But more surprising, I see the same five men that were wounded from Friday as well. It appears one of them is now dead and three are bleeding to death from new gunshot wounds," he said.
Sites said that as he was filming, a marine said one of the shot prisoners was faking that he was dead. "The marine could legitimately believe the man poses some kind of danger. Maybe he's going to cover him while another marine searches for weapons. Instead, he pulls the trigger.
"There is a small splatter against the back wall and the man's leg slumps down. 'Well he's dead now,' says another marine."