Civilian deaths were regrettable but unavoidable in war, a senior US commander has told journalists, a day after US troops killed at least seven women and children in a van at a military checkpoint near the Iraqi city of Najaf. Deaglán de Bréadún in Doha
"Our efforts may result in the loss of civilian lives and they clearly will result in the loss of Iraqi military lives," Brig Gen Vincent Brooks told a news conference at the US Central Command headquarters in Qatar.
US military officials said US troops opened fire on the vehicle after it ignored two warnings to stop. A Washington Post reporter at the scene said 10 Iraqis in all were killed, including five children who appeared to be under five-years-old.
The troops were from the US Army's 3rd Infantry Division which lost four soldiers last Saturday at another checkpoint 20 miles away, when an Iraqi soldier posing as a taxi driver detonated a car bomb in a suicide attack.
"While we regret the loss of civilian lives," Brig Gen Brooks said, "they remain unavoidable as they have been throughout history". He said the incident was being investigated.
He described several incidents in which he claimed Iraqi civilians had helped US forces in their fight against what he called "death squads" loyal to the regime. In the south-central town of Nassiriya, 100 tribesmen assisted US troops to capture Iraqi military personnel and remove explosives from a bridge, he said.
Brig Gen Brooks was questioned repeatedly at the briefing about the Najaf shootings. He said US troops were on heightened alert after the attack on Saturday.
"In all cases in checkpoints and otherwise we maintain the right to self-defence," he said. "We have increased vigilance because of the tactics of Iraqi death squads."
Immediate offers of compensation could be made, at the commander's discretion.
He attacked the Iraqi government for using civilians as human shields and punishing those who welcomed the coalition. Iraqis were receiving regular guidance from allied radio and television broadcasts about not approaching coalition troops.
He claimed the regime's supporters had shot women in the back on bridges, put babies in the line of fire and hanged one woman who simply waved to coalition troops. Despite this alleged intimidation, "people are bold and they're becoming bolder". He said "as the boot is removed from the neck of the people, they are very satisfied".
He said the "rules of engagement" at checkpoints had not changed in recent days, but that troops had become "more vigilant". Protective wire was used as a security device. The coalition was "very sensitive to the potential damage" to its image among the civilian population, but he added that "this regime will go to any extent to protect themselves".
"There have been examples of multiple vehicles rapidly approaching checkpoints and, in some instances, civilians will be put into harm's way." On the issue of suicide bombings in general, he said: "In isolation these events do not have tactical significance."
He confirmed they had not yet found any weapons of mass destruction, the purported reason for the US-led invasion of Iraq. "But we have found evidence that they are available, that there is a will to use them and we will continue looking for them."
US forces have captured an Iraqi general in the Karbala region south of Baghdad, he said. .
Commenting on the overall military situation, he said: "The plan remains sound and effective." Asked when the results of a US investigation into the deaths of civilians in explosions in a Baghdad residential area would be available, he said he could not give a date: "It takes as long as it takes."