Iraqis say at least 30 killed in U.S. air raid

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A U.S. airstrike Monday in the restive town of Ramadi killed at least 30 people, including women and children, witnesses said Tuesday.

Dr. Barakt Mansi said that many of the bodies arriving at the city's morgue were shattered and charred. Another doctor, who identified himself as Dr. Kamal, said that others died because of U.S. roadblocks and heavy fighting.

"It was difficult for us to reach the location because the Americans cordoned off the area," he said. "This increased the number of the dead — some of the injured could have been evacuated and kept alive."

U.S. military officials had no immediate comment on an airstrike but released a statement announcing that American troops in Ramadi killed 11 alleged insurgents in a series of attacks that appeared to be unrelated to any airstrike.

Marine to face a court-martial

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Marine Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins was ordered Tuesday to face court-martial on charges of murder, conspiracy, kidnapping and obstruction of justice as the leader of a squad of seven Marines and one Navy corpsman accused of kidnapping Hashim Ibrahim Awad in the town of Hamdania, taking him to a roadside hole, shooting him — and then trying to cover up the April 26 incident.

Gen. James Mattis, the commanding general in the case, said he would not seek the death penalty in the case.

Earlier Tuesday, another squad member, Cpl. Trent Thomas, entered not-guilty pleas at his arraignment.

Of the seven other troops in the case, two junior Marines and the corpsman made deals under which they pleaded guilty to reduced charges in return for giving testimony.

Also

U.S. soldier, 3 Marines killed: One U.S. soldier and three Marines were killed during combat in Anbar Province, the military said in a statement today. They died Tuesday from wounds sustained in "enemy action," the statement said.

Attacks in 4 cities kill 47: A car bomb detonated near a crowded market in northeast Baghdad on Tuesday, killing 15 people and injuring 16 others. Mortar rockets, suicide bombs and gunfire in the capital left at least nine other people dead. In Baqouba, 25 miles northeast of Baghdad, 18 people were killed Tuesday. In the northern oil-hub of Kirkuk, gunmen killed four people and wounded two others. In Tikrit, a roadside bomb killed a police officer and wounded seven other people.

Christmas cheer: As part of a campaign by the National Christmas Tree Association's Christmas Spirit Foundation, thousands of trees will be distributed among 20 military installations. An additional 400 will be sent to units stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Qatar.

Seattle Times news services