16th November 2005 updated 22nd November 2005

US admits use of chemical weapons in Fallujah while UK maintain they only used it as "smokescreen" defence (i)

The US has reluctantly admitted to using white phosphorus - worse than napalm - as an incendiary weapon in attacks on the city of Fallujah, while the British Government are insisting UK forces used it only as a smokescreen.

Philip Booth a Gloucestershire Green Party spokesperson commented: "The US originally justified its use of this dangerous chemical for 'illumination purposes.' They have now admitted to using it as an 'incendiary weapon' in Fallujah."

Philip Booth added: "White phosphorous burns upon contact with skin until deprived of oxygen. It is a brutal and terrifying weapon. Internationally outlawed as a chemical weapon when used against civilians, its use as a 'facilitating' weapon is usually accepted. But this an arbitrary difference. When firing shells into the air for light, they must land somewhere. Creating smoke and fire with white phosphorus to generate confusion and fear amongst enemy forces will inevitably involve harm or death as a result of the toxic properties of this lethal chemical."

Philip Booth said: "In a densely populated city such as Fallujah, it is almost certain that civilians will have suffered some of the toxic effects of white phosphorus. There must be a full and public inquiry into what happened at Fallujah."

Philip Booth concluded: "Has our Government so quickly forgotten its warmongering warnings that Saddam possessed, and would be willing to use, dangerous biological and chemical weapons? It seems painfully clear that we are now also guilty of that most heinous crime."

22nd NOV: READ LATEST: The US used thermobaric weapons in its assault on Falluja, where up to 50,000 civilians remained. The US army knows that its use as a weapon is illegal. Read George Monbiot


Notes:

(i) "The US used chemical weapons in Iraq - and then lied about it" in The Guardian - See:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1642831,00.html
"US admits using white phosphorous in Falluja" in The Guardian - Monbiot writes: "Saddam, facing a possible death sentence, is accused of mass murder, torture, false imprisonment and the use of chemical weapons. He is certainly guilty on all counts. So, it now seems, are those who overthrew him." See:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1643679,00.html