Iraq Attacks on Civilians Seen as War Crimes

BAGHDAD — Guerrillas who attack civilians in Iraq for collaborating with the U.S.-led coalition are committing war crimes, a human rights group said Saturday.

International humanitarian law forbids targeting civilians, New York-based Human Rights Watch noted in a statement.

“Civilians working for the occupying power are not legitimate targets of attack,” the rights group said.

The statement cited attacks on translators, government officials and community leaders, including Iraqi Governing Council member Aqila Hashimi, who was gunned down near her Baghdad home Sept. 20.

“All Iraqi civilians are protected by the Geneva Conventions,” group spokesman Joe Stork said. “It doesn’t matter whether they sympathize with the U.S. occupation or with the insurgents.”