[lbo-talk] What released journalist discovered in Iraq

[Stephen E Philion]

In an exclusive telephone interview with Aljazeera from Najaf minutes
after his release, Garen, 36, said he was taking pictures with a "small
camera" in the souq – market – district of the city when he was
overwhelmed by a large crowd.

"Nasiriya residents may have misunderstood my intentions and were
offended," he said from a Muqtada al-Sadr office as he waited transfer
to a "human rights organisation".

Aws al-Khafaji, an al-Sadr spokesperson, said Garen was released after
al-Sadr personally intervened.

"Muqtada al-Sadr moved quickly after Garen's sister made a personal
appeal to him for the release of her brother."Apparently, Garen was
investigating the deaths of a family of Iraqis in 

Nasiriya who local sources said were killed when a US tank opened fire
on them. Al-Khafaji said US military sources had claimed the car
transporting the family was rigged with explosives.

"Mr. Garen uncovered the truth about this massacred family," al-Khafaji
said.

"He discovered that this was a family on its way to a hospital because
they were expecting the birth of a baby."

<http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0FC9520D-B5CA-49E7-A2FC-5FC304D47816.htm>