IRAQ: U.S. CONVOY ATTACKED NEAR BALAD / FUNERAL HELD IN BAGHDAD FOR AL-ARABIYA PRODUCER MAZEN TOMEIZI KILLED BY U.S. HELICOPTER FIRE

Record ID: 355547

  • Title: IRAQ: U.S. CONVOY ATTACKED NEAR BALAD / FUNERAL HELD IN BAGHDAD FOR AL-ARABIYA PRODUCER MAZEN TOMEIZI KILLED BY U.S. HELICOPTER FIRE
  • Date: 13th September 2004
  • Summary: (W6) BALAD, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 13, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE OF U.S. TROOPS AND MILITARY VEHICLES AT SEALED OFFSCENE 0.10 2. TROOPS AND MILITARY VEHICLES AT SCENE 0.16 3. U.S. HELICOPTER FLYING OVERHEAD 0.23 4. U.S. TROOPS AND MILITARY VEHICLES/ MEDICAL EVACUATION HELICOPTER 0.33 5. LV: U.S. TROOPS AT SCEEN 0.42 6. MEDICA
  • Embargoed: 28th September 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD AND BALAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA4SEO04A4GZ8FDT4B89BBWRX9S
  • Story Text: Casualties after attack on U.S. convoy north of
    Baghdad while funeral is held for al-Arabiya producer
    killed by U.S. helicopter fire on Sunday.


    A U.S. convoy was attacked on Monday (September 13)
    near the town of Balad, 80 km (50 miles) north of Baghdad.

    There was no immediate confirmation from the U.S.

    military on the number of casualties, but U.S. forces
    sealed off the area and a U.S. medivac helicopter arrived
    at the scene for evacuation.

    Such helicopters will only be deployed if U.S. soldiers
    of Iraqis working alongside them are injured or wounded.

    U.S. casualties stemming from guerrilla attacks are
    making a mark on the U.S. presidential election campaign.

    John Kerry, Democratic challenger to President George W.

    Bush, has tried to make Iraq a major campaign issue while
    Bush insists the removal of Saddam Hussein has made America
    safer.

    In Baghdad, a funeral was held on Monday (September 13)
    for Al Arabiya television producer Mazen Tomeizi, killed by
    U.S. forces on Sunday (September 12).

    Tomeizi, a 26-year-old Palestinian, had been filming
    clashes in central Baghdad between Iraqi insurgents and
    U.S. forces.

    Witnesses said Tomeizi was injured when a U.S.

    helicopter fired into a crowd of Iraqis cheering around a
    military vehicle torched during fighting in Haifa street, a
    stronghold of anti-U.S. guerrillas. He died in hospital
    soon afterwards.

    Reuters Television images showed Iraqis running for
    cover shortly before a blast hit Tomeizi.

    Reuters cameraman Seif Fouad, who had been recording
    the scene, was also injured in the explosion.

    The U.S. military said two of its helicopters opened
    fire after coming under attack from the crowd. Reuters
    television footage showed no evidence any of the Iraqis
    around the Bradley vehicle were armed or had opened fire.

    Earlier, the U.S. military had said a helicopter
    destroyed the vehicle "to prevent looting and harm to the
    Iraqi people" after four U.S. soldiers were lightly wounded
    in the attack on the Bradley.

    At least four other people were killed in the incident and many
    wou nded.

    Tomeizi's body was taken to Jordan from where it will
    be taken to the West Bank for burial.


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