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Iraq violence: Iranian exiles hit by intense rocket fire Iraq violence: Iranian exiles hit by intense rocket fire
(about 1 hour later)
A former military base in Iraq housing exiled Iranian opposition members has come under intense rocket fire.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 Organisation of Iran (PMOI) says 23 members and three policemen were killed in the attack on Camp Liberty, near Baghdad airport.
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. The PMOI has been in exile since Iran's Islamic revolution in 1979. Camp Liberty came under rocket fire in February 2013 and in December 2013.
No group has yet said it carried out the attack. An Iraqi Shia militia, the Mukhtar Army, claimed the latest attack.
The rockets were fired from the Bakriya district northeast of the airport, Iraqi military spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Rasool told Reuters. Mukhtar Army leader Wathiq al-Battat told Iran's Fars news agency that his group had frequently warned the PMOI to "leave Iraqi soil as soon as possible",
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.
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 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".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.