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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Birth defects 'rise' in Falluja | Birth defects 'rise' in Falluja |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A paediatrician and parents have told the BBC of a high level of birth defects among children in Falluja, Iraq, blaming weapons used by the US. | A paediatrician and parents have told the BBC of a high level of birth defects among children in Falluja, Iraq, blaming weapons used by the US. |
| Six years ago, in 2004, there were fierce battles as US forces subdued two uprisings in the town. | Six years ago, in 2004, there were fierce battles as US forces subdued two uprisings in the town. |
| Now, one hospital doctor told the BBC that they see two or three cases of birth defects each day. | Now, one hospital doctor told the BBC that they see two or three cases of birth defects each day. |
| The US military says it is not aware of any official reports showing an increase in birth defects in the area. | The US military says it is not aware of any official reports showing an increase in birth defects in the area. |
| It says it always takes public health concerns about any population now living in a combat theatre "very seriously". | It says it always takes public health concerns about any population now living in a combat theatre "very seriously". |
| I am a doctor, I have to be scientific... I have no proof and I have nothing documented, but I can tell you that year by year they were increasing Local hospital doctor | I am a doctor, I have to be scientific... I have no proof and I have nothing documented, but I can tell you that year by year they were increasing Local hospital doctor |
| "No studies to date have indicated environmental issues resulting in specific health issues," said US Military Health System Communications Director Michael Kilpatrick. | "No studies to date have indicated environmental issues resulting in specific health issues," said US Military Health System Communications Director Michael Kilpatrick. |
| "Unexploded ordinance, including improvised explosive devises, are a recognised hazard," he added. | "Unexploded ordinance, including improvised explosive devises, are a recognised hazard," he added. |
| But local people blame the weapons used by the US troops during the fighting. | But local people blame the weapons used by the US troops during the fighting. |
| It was hard to find doctors at the brand-new, US-funded hospital in Falluja who were prepared to talk about the problem. | It was hard to find doctors at the brand-new, US-funded hospital in Falluja who were prepared to talk about the problem. |
| 'Savage epidemic' | 'Savage epidemic' |
| I was told they were scared to speak because the Iraqi government did not want to create trouble for the Americans. | I was told they were scared to speak because the Iraqi government did not want to create trouble for the Americans. |
| 40 miles (64km) west of the capital BaghdadMajor city in the predominantly Sunni province of Anbar, a hotbed of insurgency following US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 Burned corpses of four ambushed US contractors dragged through the streets of the city in March 2004 Scene of major US-led offensive against insurgents in November 2004, when thousands of marines stormed the cityUS military's use of white phosphorus munitions in that offensive widely condemned Situation in Anbar as a whole calmer since 2006, when tribal "Awakening Councils" turned against al-Qaeda in Iraq | 40 miles (64km) west of the capital BaghdadMajor city in the predominantly Sunni province of Anbar, a hotbed of insurgency following US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 Burned corpses of four ambushed US contractors dragged through the streets of the city in March 2004 Scene of major US-led offensive against insurgents in November 2004, when thousands of marines stormed the cityUS military's use of white phosphorus munitions in that offensive widely condemned Situation in Anbar as a whole calmer since 2006, when tribal "Awakening Councils" turned against al-Qaeda in Iraq |
| The official line is that Falluja has only two or three cases of birth defects a year more than normal. | The official line is that Falluja has only two or three cases of birth defects a year more than normal. |
| But, in the children's ward, I spoke to a paediatrician who told me he saw as many as two or three cases a day, mainly cardiac defects. | But, in the children's ward, I spoke to a paediatrician who told me he saw as many as two or three cases a day, mainly cardiac defects. |
| That would mean that this medium-sized town has some 1,000 cases of birth defects a year. | That would mean that this medium-sized town has some 1,000 cases of birth defects a year. |
| Every doctor, and every parent I spoke to there, believed the problem was the highly sophisticated weapons the US troops used against Falluja six years ago. | Every doctor, and every parent I spoke to there, believed the problem was the highly sophisticated weapons the US troops used against Falluja six years ago. |
| The rubble from the damaged buildings was bulldozed into the river - and people in Falluja have got their drinking water from there ever since. | The rubble from the damaged buildings was bulldozed into the river - and people in Falluja have got their drinking water from there ever since. |
| I went to a house where all three young children were suffering from paralysis or brain damage. | I went to a house where all three young children were suffering from paralysis or brain damage. |
| A man who heard I was there brought his daughter to show me - she had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, and suffered from several serious diseases. | A man who heard I was there brought his daughter to show me - she had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, and suffered from several serious diseases. |
| Falluja is in the grip of a savage epidemic, and the victims are the weakest and most vulnerable of all. | Falluja is in the grip of a savage epidemic, and the victims are the weakest and most vulnerable of all. |
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