US-led TROOPS IN IRAQ ARE TARGETING HOSPITALS, AMBULANCES AND CIVILIANS

"STOP the war crimes. Respect the Geneva conventions and end the occupation
immediately," says an international campaign alliance.

April 21th: Released simultaneously from Baghdad, Manila, Bangalore,
Managua, Brussels, New York, San Francisco, Melbourne.

According to an international campaign group, there is strong evidence that
the US-led occupation forces are guilty of war crimes in Iraq.

In a press statement issued today, 'Health NOW! No war, No WTO - Fight for
people's health' - an international campaign alliance - said that the US led
occupation forces have "shown disrespect for civilians, health systems,
health workers and medical infrastructure, resulting in the death of
hundreds of civilians and extreme misery for thousands of people in Fallujah
and many more in the rest of Iraq."

The alliance spearheading the campaign includes leading medical
professionals, development and peace groups and networks, people-based mass
movements and activists from over 100 countries.

Based on first hand field testimonies from health workers and peace
activists in Iraq and eye-witness accounts from Fallujah, the campaigners
leveled their charges:

1) US- led troops have targeted unarmed civilians and used cluster bombs in
populated areas of the city.

2) US-led troops have severely hampered relief work to the wounded.

3) US-led troops have blocked access to Fallujah's hospital thus forcing
doctors and health personnel to set up field hospitals in private homes.

4) US-led forces deliberately targeted ambulances that went about the city
to collect the injured.

"These constitute war crimes as the US troops are required by the Geneva
Conventions to discriminate combatants from non-combatants," said Dr. Geert
Van Moorter, a Belgian emergency doctor of intal/Medical Aid for the Third
World who was in Iraq until early April. "These acts are repulsive and
immoral as they cause unnecessary civilian casualties," he added.

The campaigners also pointed out that no less than the Iraqi health
minister, during a less-reported press conference held on April 17th,
confirmed that the US-led forces have intentionally shot at ambulances.

The campaigners have posted the details, facts and proof for these charges
along with corroborated eyewitness accounts at the campaign website
http://www.health-now.org.

"Indiscriminate killing of civilians and the refusal to provide people with
security, basic services and decent medical infrastructure have
characterized the 'freedom' that the occupying forces have brought to the
country" said Eman Ahmed Khammas, Director of International Occupation Watch
Center, one of the participating groups in the campaign, from Occupied
Baghdad.

Nicaraguan health activist Mar