UN: 34 Killed In Iraqi Raid On Iranian Exiles

Rupert Colville

A UN official says 34 people were killed in an Iraqi Army raid last week on a camp of Iranian exiles.

The statement today by UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville in Geneva is the first independent confirmation of the death toll during the raid on Camp Ashraf on April 8.

Colville said most of the victims at the camp, located in Iraq's eastern Diyala Province, appeared to have been shot.

The raid targeted the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran, which seeks to overthrow Iran's clerical leaders.

Iran praised Iraq for the deadly raid.

Iraq's military initially said only three people were killed, while residents of the camp said the toll was much higher.

compiled from agency reports