Marines got name wrong of Iraqi town where civilian died (and was framed)

Marines got name wrong of Iraqi town where civilian died
Knight Ridder Washington Bureau
By Nancy A. Youssef
June 05, 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq - When U.S. officials announced May 25 that they were investigating accusations that American Marines had wrongly killed an Iraqi man, they said the April 26 death had taken place in 'Hamandiyah,' a town they described as west of Baghdad.

But no town by that name exists there or anywhere in Iraq, Iraqi geographers say. The mistake has sown confusion as reporters and others attempt to track the U.S. investigation into the killing, and promises to continue to puzzle if American officials persist in using the incorrect name in referring to the case.

Knight Ridder tracked down the town last week after military officials described what was nearby. Its name is actually al-Hamdania (pronounced hahm-da-NEE-yah).

...

At al-Hamdania, the family of Hashim Ibrahim Awad told Knight Ridder that U.S. Marines took him from his home in the middle of night and killed him. The Marines then used an AK-47 assault rifle and a shovel taken from another home to make him look like a terrorist, they said.

...

Spokesmen at Camp Pendleton didn't respond to phone calls seeking comment about whether they'd change their reference to the town.

(more)

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