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Iraq violence: Iranian exiles hit by intense rocket fire | Iraq violence: Iranian exiles hit by intense rocket fire |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A former military base in Iraq housing exiled Iranian opposition members has come under intense rocket fire. | |
The People's Mujahedin of Iran says 23 of its members were killed in the attack in addition to three policemen. | The People's Mujahedin of Iran says 23 of its members were killed in the attack in addition to three policemen. |
About 80 missiles struck the former US base known as Camp Liberty, close to Baghdad airport, according to the PMOI. The Iraqi military said about 15 rockets were used. | |
No group has yet said it carried out the attack. | No group has yet said it carried out the attack. |
The rockets were fired from the Bakriya district northeast of the airport, Iraqi military spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Rasool told Reuters. | |
The People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI) has been in exile since the Islamic revolution of 1979. | The People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI) has been in exile since the Islamic revolution of 1979. |
The Camp Liberty base came under rocket fire in February 2013 and in December 2013. | |
PMOI rebels also came under attack from Iraqi troops in 2011. | PMOI rebels also came under attack from Iraqi troops in 2011. |
The US designated the PMOI as a terrorist organisation in 1997 but took it off its blacklist in 2012 in view of its "public renunciation of violence". | |
The 23 reported deaths have not been independently verified. | The 23 reported deaths have not been independently verified. |
US Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed in a statement that residents of the camp were killed and injured, but he did not specify how many. | US Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed in a statement that residents of the camp were killed and injured, but he did not specify how many. |
He said the US would assist the UN in the relocation of all camp residents "to a permanent and safe location outside of Iraq". | |
The PMOI sided with Saddam Hussein during Iran's war with Iraq in the 1980s but fell out with Baghdad after the Iraqi leader was overthrown by a US-led invasion in 2003. | The PMOI sided with Saddam Hussein during Iran's war with Iraq in the 1980s but fell out with Baghdad after the Iraqi leader was overthrown by a US-led invasion in 2003. |
The remaining Iranian dissidents, who advocate the removal of Iran's clerical leaders, were moved to Camp Liberty in 2012. | The remaining Iranian dissidents, who advocate the removal of Iran's clerical leaders, were moved to Camp Liberty in 2012. |
They have blamed Iran for instigating the attack and have called for the US and the UN to launch an inquiry. | They have blamed Iran for instigating the attack and have called for the US and the UN to launch an inquiry. |
Last year Islamic State militants fired rockets near the international airport as it sought to destabilise the capital. | Last year Islamic State militants fired rockets near the international airport as it sought to destabilise the capital. |