US vows to investigate civilian deaths

By June Kelly
BBC, Baghdad

The commander of American forces in Iraq has said the United States army will pursue aggressively soldiers accused of using unnecessary force against Iraqi civilians.

Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez says he has not read the Human Rights report

Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez was responding to allegations in a report by the American organisation, Human Rights Watch.

It has accused the US military of failing to carry out proper investigations into the deaths of Iraqis at the hands of American forces.

Human Rights Watch said it had confirmed the deaths of 20 civilians at the hands of US soldiers since the end of the war.

It had collected what it described as credible reports of a further 74 civilian deaths which it said warranted investigation.

'Disciplined and professional'

The US military does not keep a tally of Iraqi deaths at the hands of its soldiers.

At a news conference General Sanchez said he had not read or been briefed on the report.

The report says US troops are not prepared for policing Iraq

But he was adamant that his soldiers were not getting away with murder.

"We do not ignore allegations against our soldiers. That is not something that the American ethic allows. That is not something that the American forces allow," General Sanchez said.

"We are a disciplined, professional organisation that has a very well-established set of values and that's what makes the American army great," he added.

General Sanchez said some soldiers were currently awaiting trial.

He was unable to give figures but said he would produce details of cases under investigation.