US clears troops in Iraqi deaths in Ishaqi

WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) A US military probe has exonerated US troops in the deaths of Iraqi civilians in the town of Ishaqi in March, finding American forces followed standard procedures and committed no misconduct, defense officials said today.

Police in the town, 100 km north of Baghdad, have said six adults and five children were shot dead in a US military raid on a home on March 15.

But the US military maintained that there were four dead in the incident, including a guerrilla, two women and a child, and they died after troops were fired upon from the house as they arrived to arrest an al Qaeda suspect.

The defense officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said an investigation found no wrongdoing by US forces.

The officials said a military fact-finding inquiry determined that US forces followed proper procedures and that the civilian deaths were unintentional.

The Ishaqi incident was one of a handful involving civilian deaths being investigated by the US military.

The most publicized case occurred in Haditha, west of Baghdad, on November 19.

The military is investigating whether US Marines went on a rampage after a comrade was killed by an insurgent roadside bomb and shot dead two dozen civilians, including women and children. US defense officials have said Marines could face charges including murder.

Reuters PDS VP0245