IRAQ: LOOTERS AND OTHER DETAINED BY U.S. FORCES ARE NOW BEING TRIED BY AN IRAQI JUDGE IN THE TOWN OF FALLUJA

Record ID: 646615

  • Title: IRAQ: LOOTERS AND OTHER DETAINED BY U.S. FORCES ARE NOW BEING TRIED BY AN IRAQI JUDGE IN THE TOWN OF FALLUJA
  • Date: 17th June 2003
  • Summary: (W5) FALLUJA, 60 KM WEST OF BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JUNE 17, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV EXTERIOR OF BUILDING WHERE TRIALS ARE TAKING PLACE 0.06 2. CU SIGN SAYING COURT OF FALLUJA 0.10 3. SLV U.S. TROOPS IN BUILDING 0.19 4. CU SIGN TO ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE 0.23 5. SV MEN BEING TRIED BEING BROUGHT BY U.S. TROOPS (2 SHOTS) 0.34 6. SV LOOTER STANDING BEFORE JUDGE JAMAL KHALAF REJAB 0.47 7. MCU U.S. SOLDIERS STANDING GUARD AT TRAIL 0.54 8. SV MORE OF LOOTER AND JUDGE 1.03 9. SV ANOTHER LOOTER BEING BROUGHT IN BEFORE JUDGE 1.12 10. MCU REJAB SPEAKING TO LOOTER 1.20 11. CU REJAB LOOKING AT DOCUMENTS 1.26 12. SLV LOOTER BEING TAKEN AWAY 1.32 13. SLV SOLDIER TAKING LOOTER AWAY 1.39 14. SV MORE OF LOOTER WITH JUDGE 1.45 15. SV U.S. TROOPS STANDING GUARD/ANOTHER LOOTER BEING BROUGHT IN (3 SHOTS) 2.00 16. MCU (Arabic) JUDGE JAMAL KHALAF REJAB, SAYING: "Today we have fourteen suspects which the American forces brought in -- the men are charged with various crimes. The crimes include primarily looting and also weapon possession without permits. Others were detained for defying orders." 2.33 17. MCU U.S. SOLDIER PRESENT AT TRIAL 2.40 18. MCU (English) REBECCA ELIOT, U.S. SOLDIER SAYING: "I would tell them to stop looting or they are going to get picked up by U.S. forces. If they are found they will be detained." 2.50 19. SLV TROOPS STANDING OUTSIDE BUILDING 2.57 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: FALLUJA, 60 KM WEST OF BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVAE5B9Y16JB3HSGVS8B25SFGQZT
  • Story Text: Looters and others detained by U.S. forces are now
    being tried by an Iraqi judge in the town of Falluja, near
    Baghdad -- in the first such trails following the anarchy that
    ensued after Saddam's overthrow on April 9.



    U.S. forces handed over 14 Iraqis to an Iraqi court for
    trial on Tuesday (June 17) in the town of Falluja, near
    Baghdad.

    Most of the men were detained for looting following the
    anarchy that ensued after Saddam's overthrow on April 9.

    Others included Iraqis charged with possessing illegal
    weapons. A two-week amnesty for Iraqis to hand in heavy
    weapons ended on Sunday (June 15).

    Anyone caught with illegal firearms now faces a fine and up to a year
    in jail.

    "Today we have fourteen suspects which the American forces
    brought in -- the men are charged with various crimes.

    The crimes include primarily looting and also weapon possession
    without permits. Others were detained for defying orders,"
    said Jamal Khalaf Rejab, an Iraqi judge.

    Hostility to the Americans is widespread in Falluja and
    many Iraqis have complained that they dare not give up their
    guns until security is restored.

    "I would tell them to stop looting or they are going to
    get picked up by U.S. forces. If they are found they will be
    detained." said Rebecca Eliot, a U.S. soldier present at the
    trial.

    Soldiers said they had seized several weapons during
    house- to-house searches. By late Monday (June 16), 156 people
    had been detained in 11 raids in Baghdad, it said.

    Troops seized 121 rifles, four machine-guns, two submachineguns, 19
    pistols, 18 rocket-propelled grenades, 31 pounds of explosives
    and some chemical protective masks.

    The U.S. military launched Operation Desert Scorpion,
    saying it aims to win hearts and minds as well as hunt
    die-hard Saddam loyalists.

    The mission involves humanitarian aid as well as raids.

    But many Iraqis say U.S. raids have been heavy-handed,
    with houses ransacked and civilians assaulted.

    Many say they want occupying forces to leave Iraq as soon as
    possible.



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