NGO slams occupation of Najaf hospital by Salvadoran coalition troops

[Barrett808]

BAGHDAD (AFP) - A French non-governmental organization slammed the occupation of the biggest hospital in the Shiite holy city of Najaf in central Iraq by Salvadoran troops of the US-led coalition.

"We actively denounce this unacceptable situation, contrary to the Geneva conventions," Jean Renouf, a member of the First Emergency team in Baghdad, told AFP.

For the past 10 days, coalition troops have been occupying the hospital, located near the base of the Spanish contingent, according to an AFP correspondent in Najaf.

First Emergency said Salvadoran troops, who are based with the Spanish contingent at the entrance of Najaf, are occupying the hospital. The Salvadorans were not available for comment.

"The Salvadoran soldiers have been occupying the Sadr hospital for 10 days.

"The patients and the personnel were forcibly evicted in a few hours," said Renouf, quoting an Iraqi engineer, who is a member of Najaf-based First Emergency, and doctors at the hospital.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040422/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_salvador_najaf&cid=1514&ncid=1480

[buddy22600]

1. One more violation by the

coalition of the complicent