19 January 2005

AMSTERDAM — Dutch peacekeeping troops killed an Iraqi on Wednesday morning after the car he was travelling in failed to stop at a security checkpoint, the Defence Ministry said.

A ministry press release said the incident took place at around 5am local time (3am Dutch time) about 40km north of the Iraqi city Salman in the south of the country.

The civilian vehicle ignored a stop signal at a checkpoint, prompting Dutch troops to fire several warning shots. But when the vehicle continued moving, Dutch troops opened fire on it.

A man travelling in the car was killed, while the second occupant was reportedly  unhurt. No Dutch troops were injured in the incident. The Dutch military police and Iraqi police are investigating the incident.

Violence has escalated in Iraq in the lead-up to national elections planned for 30 January. Up to five bomb attacks in the capital Baghdad on Wednesday cost the lives of at least 26 people. The attacks targeted local and foreign security forces.

The Netherlands has some 1,400 troops stationed in the southern Iraqi province of al-Muthanna. The troops will return home in March, but 350 replacements will be re-deployed for six to eight weeks longer to dismantle the Dutch camps.

[Copyright Expatica News 2005]

Subject: Dutch news