BAGHDAD (AP) - The U.S. military said Monday it accidentally killed
nine Iraqi civilians during an operation targeting al-Qaida in Iraq —
the deadliest known case of mistaken identity in recent months.

The Iraqi civilians were killed Saturday near Iskandariyah, 30 miles
south of the Iraqi capital, Navy Lt. Patrick Evans told The Associated
Press.

Evans did not say exactly how the civilians died, but said the killings
occurred as U.S. forces pursued suspected al-Qaida in Iraq militants.
The incident is under investigation, he said.

Iraqi police said the victims, including two women, were in two houses
in the village of Tal al-Samar, which was bombed by American warplanes
late Saturday. They were all Sunnis, an officer said on condition of
anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The U.S. planes struck after an American convoy came under enemy fire in
Tal al-Samar and soldiers called for air support, the Iraqi officer said.

"We offer our condolences to the families of those who were killed in
this incident, and we mourn the loss of innocent civilian life," Evans
said in a statement e-mailed to the AP.

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