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Iran exiles 'killed in Iraq raid' | Iran exiles 'killed in Iraq raid' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Seven Iranian dissidents have been killed during a raid by Iraqi security forces on their camp north of Baghdad, Iraqi police have said. | Seven Iranian dissidents have been killed during a raid by Iraqi security forces on their camp north of Baghdad, Iraqi police have said. |
Eyewitnesses say Iraqi police have surrounded the People's Mujahideen of Iran (PMOI) camp and clashes are continuing inside. | Eyewitnesses say Iraqi police have surrounded the People's Mujahideen of Iran (PMOI) camp and clashes are continuing inside. |
Iran wants the camp closed. The exiles fear they will be forcibly repatriated. | Iran wants the camp closed. The exiles fear they will be forcibly repatriated. |
The US gave the camp some protection until it handed security control back to Iraq earlier this year. | The US gave the camp some protection until it handed security control back to Iraq earlier this year. |
The PMOI said Iraqi riot police stormed the camp using batons and live fire on Tuesday. | The PMOI said Iraqi riot police stormed the camp using batons and live fire on Tuesday. |
Amnesty International said it was "seriously concerned" about the incident, and had seen footage which "clearly showed" Iraqi forces beating people repeatedly. | Amnesty International said it was "seriously concerned" about the incident, and had seen footage which "clearly showed" Iraqi forces beating people repeatedly. |
There are contradictory reports coming out of Ashraf about what sparked the violence. | There are contradictory reports coming out of Ashraf about what sparked the violence. |
The PMOI released images showing alleged protests at the camp | |
Police say residents of the camp fired teargas at them but the PMOI says it was the police who fired the tear gas. | Police say residents of the camp fired teargas at them but the PMOI says it was the police who fired the tear gas. |
An Iraqi official told AFP news agency more than 50 Iranians had been arrested. | An Iraqi official told AFP news agency more than 50 Iranians had been arrested. |
Iraqi officials said they were trying to establish a police post in the camp, north of Baghdad. | Iraqi officials said they were trying to establish a police post in the camp, north of Baghdad. |
"It is our territory and our right to enter, to impose Iraqi law on everybody," a defence ministry spokesman told al-Arabiya television. | "It is our territory and our right to enter, to impose Iraqi law on everybody," a defence ministry spokesman told al-Arabiya television. |
Presence welcomed | Presence welcomed |
The PMOI set up a base in Iraq in the 1980s. | The PMOI set up a base in Iraq in the 1980s. |
The exiles' presence was welcomed by then-President Saddam Hussein, who was fighting a war against Iran at the time. | The exiles' presence was welcomed by then-President Saddam Hussein, who was fighting a war against Iran at the time. |
The camp was disarmed by US soldiers following the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. | The camp was disarmed by US soldiers following the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. |
But since then relations between Iran and Iraq have improved and the Iraqi government has repeatedly vowed to close the camp. | But since then relations between Iran and Iraq have improved and the Iraqi government has repeatedly vowed to close the camp. |
Iraqi forces took over its security from the US earlier this year, and the top US general in Iraq said he had received no advance warning of the raid. | Iraqi forces took over its security from the US earlier this year, and the top US general in Iraq said he had received no advance warning of the raid. |
A US official said the Iraqi government had given assurances that residents of the camp would not be forcibly transferred. | A US official said the Iraqi government had given assurances that residents of the camp would not be forcibly transferred. |
Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Iraq would "not force the Iranians to depart against their wishes". | Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Iraq would "not force the Iranians to depart against their wishes". |
"But they should co-operate with governmental procedures," he said, according to the Associated Press. | "But they should co-operate with governmental procedures," he said, according to the Associated Press. |
The PMOI released video of what it said were Iraqi forces using tear gas and water cannon, and pictures showing residents it said had been injured. | The PMOI released video of what it said were Iraqi forces using tear gas and water cannon, and pictures showing residents it said had been injured. |
The group is considered a terrorist group by the US and Iran. It was removed from an EU terrorist list earlier this year after a legal battle. | The group is considered a terrorist group by the US and Iran. It was removed from an EU terrorist list earlier this year after a legal battle. |
'Intelligence source' | 'Intelligence source' |
But reports suggest Washington has received intelligence from the group, and has urged Iraqi authorities not to repatriate its members or use lethal force against them. | But reports suggest Washington has received intelligence from the group, and has urged Iraqi authorities not to repatriate its members or use lethal force against them. |
"We have had promises from the government of Iraq that they would deal with the [PMOI] in a humane fashion," said US Gen Ray Odierno. | "We have had promises from the government of Iraq that they would deal with the [PMOI] in a humane fashion," said US Gen Ray Odierno. |
A PMOI spokesman said residents were terrified of being handed over to Iranian authorities. | A PMOI spokesman said residents were terrified of being handed over to Iranian authorities. |
The group says it is ready to return to Iran - but only on condition that none of its members will be prosecuted or persecuted. | The group says it is ready to return to Iran - but only on condition that none of its members will be prosecuted or persecuted. |