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Police say U.S. attack in Iraq kills 14

By DAVID RISING, Associated Press Writer
19 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - At least 14 people were killed early Thursday in a U.S. attack on a western Baghdad neighborhood, police and residents said.

The U.S. command in Baghdad said it was aware of the report but had no immediate comment.

Some houses' roofs were caved in and other homes were completely destroyed in the early morning attack in the Washash area, next to the Mansour district of Baghdad.

"Three people were killed in that house," said a middle-aged man, standing next to a hole in his roof, as he pointed next door.

He waved a piece of shrapnel he had found.

"The Iraqi parties are quarreling over power and the people are dying," he told Associated Press Television News. "We are fed up."

A black-cloaked woman wailed against Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government as she picked through rubble next to her house.

"Damned be the government, curse be upon Maliki," she screamed.

Residents reported hearing explosions at around 3 a.m. that then went on for about 45 minutes to an hour.

A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said U.S. helicopters had attacked the area, killing 14 civilians and injuring 10 others.

There was confusion at the scene, however, as some residents said they thought it had been a mortar attack and said 27 people had been killed. Others said U.S. airplanes were involved.

"U.S. helicopters bombed our homes while we were sleeping," one woman said. "My son and my husband were killed and our house was destroyed."

Nearby Yarmouk hospital said it had received seven people wounded in the attack, while Kadimiyah hospital said it had three.