Another death at the wall in Baghdad
Herve Bar; 6/6/08
Iraqi teenager Abbas Khadum died in his father’s arms, one of 25 men local residents say were shot dead in a single day by US troops in a crackdown on Shiite militiamen in east Baghdad. His mother fought back tears while his father held a picture of the 19-year-old, his hair slicked back and dressed in a smart shirt buttoned up to his chin, as he gave his version of how US troops had killed his son. US forces said Khadum was one of 11 “special group” criminals - a term used to describe fighters armed, funded and trained by Iranians - attempting to plant roadside bombs. His parents say he was just walking to university. Khadum’s family live in the heart of the Shiite-dominated Al Obeidi neighbourhood, where many followers of radical cleric Moqtada Al Sadr are rumoured to have sought refuge after being driven out of nearby Sadr City.