Iraqi police attack Palestinian compound

There are a number of reports on an attack on a Palestinian appartment building in Baladiat district yesterday, the figures and accounts vary: The AP reports that Iraqi security forces raided a Palestinian compound in Baghdad after an attack on a police patrol, prompting a battle that left one Palestinian dead, Iraqi officials, and at least 15 Palestinians were detained. Palestinian charge d'affaires Dalil al-Qusous said as many as 80 Palestinians had been detained and demanded their release. He claimed the Iraqi troops fired randomly during the raid, causing "fear and awe." Another AP report quotes Qusous further "We used to say the attacks occurred by militias or gangs; but now the state is attacking" and he continued explaining that Interior Ministry forces first broke into the compound in eastern Baghdad on Tuesday, seizing two Palestinians and shooting randomly. Then they returned for about five hours on Wednesday, detaining dozens and sparking a gunbattle that killed one Palestinian. A later AP report added that the Interior Ministry spokesman, Brig. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf, defending the raid on the Palestinian compound in eastern Baghdad, saying it was targeting a stolen car network, not the Palestinians. Police met with fierce resistance when they went to arrest suspects on Wednesday and he said "three gang members were killed and 15 others arrested." The LA Times writes "Iraqi police and soldiers traded fire with gunmen holed up in an apartment building inhabited by Palestinian refugees in east Baghdad. At least two people were killed and three injured inside the building, police said at the scene. U.S. and Iraqi security forces surrounded the building and apprehended up to 70 suspects." The IraqSlogger, based on a report from the Haqq Agency, says "Eyewitnesses said that ten people were killed in the raids and several others wounded after Iraqi troops opened fire randomly." Reuters reports that "Iraqi troops raided a complex in eastern Baghdad occupied by Palestinian refugees after receiving information that a car bomb was inside the compound, Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier Abdul Karim Khalaf said. Khalaf said shooting broke out and three men gunmen were killed and 25 others were arrested, including Iraqis and Palestianians."