Baghdad, Jun 12 (Online):  An Iraqi newspaper run by Sunni Muslims
traded charges on Monday with the United States-led occupation
authority over the alleged rape of two Iraqi girls by US soldiers, a
claim denied by the coalition.

According to the daily As-Saah, the girls, aged 14 and 15, were
talking to American soldiers in Suwaira, 180km south of Baghdad, on
Friday when the soldiers suggested they accompany them to their camp
to take pictures but  then collectively raped the pair.

This allegation is "absolutely false", the US Central Command said in
a statement.

"We take any claim of this nature extremely seriously, have looked
into the  allegations and found nothing whatsoever to substantiate the
accusations,   including checking local hospital records," it said.

'The As-Saah newspaper clearly and blatantly abused its recently
attained   freedom'  As-Saah said one of the girls died after she was
raped by 18 soldiers while the other was killed by her family. Editor
Naama Abderrazzak told AFP two of  the daily's reporters had talked to
residents of the area and seen the  bodies of the two girls.

"After conducting a thorough investigation into this supposed account,
we  know this report is inaccurate, irresponsible, and purposefully
attempts to damage the credibility of our forces and our efforts to
create a secure and stable environment for the people of Iraq,"
Centcom said.

But Abderrazzak insisted he had asked his staff to thoroughly check
the story and it was definitely true.

"Everyone in Suwairi is aware of this episode and it wouldn't take the
Americans long to investigate it," he said.

The Centcom statement charged that As-Saah supported deposed Iraqi
president  Saddam Hussein and his Baath Party when they were in power
and said the  newspaper's chairman, Ahmad al-Kubaissy, had "previously
called for the  unity of Shi'a and Sunni Muslims to confront the US
presence".

Full Story at : http://paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=28502