Iraqis differ on deaths in US raid

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BAGHDAD, Oct 6 (AP): US airstrikes killed at least 25 people Friday after troops met a fierce barrage while hunting suspected arms smuggling links between Iran and Shiite militiamen. The military described the dead as fighters, but village leaders said the victims included children and men protecting their homes.
In a separate incident, the US military said it was investigating the deaths of three civilians shot by American sentries near an Iraqi-manned checkpoint. Iraqi officials said the victims were US-allied guards and were mistakenly targeted.
While details could not be independently confirmed, both reports reflected rising concerns about possible friendly fire killings as more viligante-style groups join the fight against extremists and fill the vacuum left by Iraq's collapsing national police force.
Such claims could hinder crucial US efforts to draw Sunni and Shiite leaders into alliances against insurgent factions such as al-Qaida in Iraq.
Local leaders and hospital officials said US aircraft bombed the neighbourhood repeatedly, killing at least seven children and local men who organised watches to guard against extremist attacks.
The mayor of Khalis, Odai al-Khadran, said "locals were protecting themselves by guarding their village. They are not militias."
Iraqis routinely assert that civilians are killed in raids by US forces targeting militants. But Friday's claim was among the largest in terms of numbers.
Those killed were three members of the council who were guarding a deserted road leading to their village, the spokesman said.