Iraqi accuses Israel of 'massacres'
(AP)
Updated: 2006-07-31 21:56 BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's vice president on Monday
accused Israel of carrying out "massacres" in Lebanon, the strongest criticism
yet of the Jewish state by a top official of the U.S-backed Iraqi government.
Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi, a Shiite, singled out Sunday's Israeli
airstrike that killed at least 56 Lebanese, mostly women and children, in the
village of Qana. The deadliest attack in nearly three weeks of fighting has
triggered an international uproar.
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Iraqi's burn an
American flag during a protest march denouncing Israel's Sunday attack in
southern Lebanon, Monday, July 31, 2006, in the Shiite area of Sadr City,
Baghdad, Iraq. Iraq's Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi on Monday accused
Israel of carrying out 'massacres' in Lebanon in the strongest criticism
of the Jewish state by a top official of the U.S-backed Iraqi government.
Sunday's Israeli airstrike killed at least 56 Lebanese, mostly women and
children, in the southern village of Qana. [AP Photo]
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"What happened in Qana is a repetition to these crimes that happened to our
nation decades ago. It's time for this nation to stand up and stop this
aggression and all forms of aggression that could affect any of its parts,"
Abdul-Mahdi said.
"These horrible massacres carried out by the Israeli aggression, incites in
us the spirit of brotherhood and solidarity," he said in a speech attended by
Iraq's president, the prime minister and other top government officials.
The comments were harsher than the criticism leveled by Iraq's president and
the deputy prime minister on Sunday. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, another
Shiite, had also condemned Israel's offensive before traveling to Washington
last week, provoking criticism from U.S. lawmakers.
Several Democrats boycotted his speech to Congress on Wednesday and
Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean called the Iraqi leader an "anti-Semite."
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