Tikrit, Iraq; 21 August 2003 (RFE/RL) -- The U.S. military says Iraqi guerrillas are targeting locals who are working with U.S. troops. Major Bryan Luke today said translators are particularly at risk because they often help U.S. soldiers with intelligence about supporters of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Luke spoke after unidentified attackers followed an Iraqi translator home on 19 August and shot him dead near the town of Samarra, north of the capital Baghdad. Luke described it as a "cold-blooded execution."
Luke said the translator was the third interpreter to die since July in five deliberate attacks on locals working with U.S. forces in the three provinces north of Baghdad.
Luke spoke after unidentified attackers followed an Iraqi translator home on 19 August and shot him dead near the town of Samarra, north of the capital Baghdad. Luke described it as a "cold-blooded execution."
Luke said the translator was the third interpreter to die since July in five deliberate attacks on locals working with U.S. forces in the three provinces north of Baghdad.