Clerics, Turkey demand halt to US attacks in Tall Afar

By: Abdullah

ANKARA, Turkey: US-led assault on insurgents in Tall Afar killed at least 57 people, prompting Muslim clerics to accuse the US-led coalition of “genocide” in Iraq.

Talking to The Associated Press in Baghdad, Sayyed Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim, Chairman Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, strongly criticized the heavy use of force by the US military against insurgents in Tall Afar, a northern city, saying they caused 'catastrophes' that would not have happened had Iraqis been in charge of security.

Calm returned to Tall Afar Friday after a 13-hour air and ground assault the previous day, which medics said left 45 people dead and that US commanders said killed up to 57 “terrorists.”

“These savage bombardments make no distinction between unarmed civilians and those equipped with weapons,” Sheikh Salah Al-Jaburi said in the nearby city of Mosul.

US commanders charge that the town is a key staging point for foreign fighters infiltrating on minor roads from the Syrian border to the west.

In Ankara, Turkey urged Washington to halt its “disproportionate” use of force in Tall Afar - mainly Shiite Turkmen city - and said the government was following events with “great concern.”

Turkish sources have claimed that many Turkmen residents of the town had been killed during US forces' operations.

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