지난 2007년 7월 12일 이라크 바그다드에서 미군 무장헬기 공격으로 로이터 사진기자 등 민간인이 무참히 살해되는 영상이 유출됐다.
유출된 39분짜리 영상은 미군 기밀 영상으로 ‘위키리크스(Wikileaks)’라는 사이트를 통해 공개됐다. 사격 조준기를 통해 녹화된 영상에는 공격 당시 헬기 조종사들의 대화 내용과 사살 과정 등이 그대로 담겨있다.
피해자들을 적군으로 오해했다고 밝힌 미군은 로이터 사진기자와 운전사를 포함한 민간인 12여명을 사살했다. 당시 어린이 두 명도 부상당했다.
큰 파장이 일고 있지만, 이 사건과 관련해 미군은 교전규칙을 따른 것일 뿐이라고 결론 내렸다.
국제앰네스티는 이와 관련해 미국 정부에 독립적이고 철저하며 공정한 조사를 요청했다. 또 국제인도주의법에 따라 피해자들에 배상 및 보상 할 것을 촉구했다.
국제앰네스티 중동-북아프리카국(局) 말콤 스마트(Malcolm Smart) 국장은 “이 문제의 영상을 별도의 사건으로 인식하거나 판단해서는 안 되며, 이 지역에서 일어난 다른 사건들과 같은 맥락에서 볼 수 있어야 한다”고 언급했다. 그는 “미군이 국제인도주의법을 준수했는지, 민간인을 보호하기 위해 필요한 사전조치를 취했는지 확인할 수 있는 추가적 정보를 미 당국은 공개해야 한다”고 말한다. 
US helicopter killings in Iraq must be independently investigated
Wednesday 7 April 2010
A leaked classified US military video appears to show the 2007 attacks in which up to a dozen people, including a journalist and his driver, were killed. Amnesty International has called for an independent, thorough and impartial investigation into the 12 July 2007 helicopter attacks portrayed in a leaked classified US military video in which up to a dozen people, including a journalist and his driver, were killed.
The 39 minute video released on Monday by Wikileaks appears to show a helicopter gunsight video with an audio track of conversation among the crew opening fire on a group of men, a couple of whom appear to be armed, moving about a square in eastern Baghdad.
It also shows further firing on a van which arrives, apparently to evacuate the wounded and the dead. Two children were wounded in the incident.
“This highly disturbing video appears to show that after the initial attack, US troops opened fire on people seeking to assist a wounded man, injuring two children, and killing several more people,” said Malcolm Smart, director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa programme.
“These troubling images can not be viewed or judged in isolation and must be put into the context of what else was happening in the vicinity.
“The US authorities must disclose any further information or footage that will shed light on this and they must conduct a proper investigation to determine whether US forces adhered to the rules of international humanitarian law and took necessary precautions to spare civilians.”
Amnesty International has called for the incidents depicted in the video to be independently investigated and for reparation, including compensation, to be made available to victims of violations of international humanitarian law.
A US military investigation into the attack concluded that correct rules of engagement were followed, although those killed and injured included civilians.
Wikileaks said the men in the square included Reuters photographer Namir Noor-Eldeen, 22, and his assistant and driver Saeed Chmagh, 40, who were killed in the incident.
