eight out of 10 of the gunshot victims he sees
What makes the Sadr City residents' account believable is that in their neighbourhood a "martyr's death" - someone killed while fighting against US forces - carries with it great honour. Residents are happy to brag about their relatives who have died in "the resistance".
Mr Sagban's brothers, on the other hand, are adamant that he had no connection with either Shia or Sunni insurgents. He was engaged and was just about to go to Jordan to work and save money before getting married.
The US military in Baghdad denied any knowledge of Mr Sagban's death. "We checked all our reports from that area, and we have found nothing to match this information. Also, I can tell you with confidence that MNF [Multi-National Force] forces are here to protect and liberate the Iraqi people - we do not fire upon innocent civilians," a spokesman wrote in an e-mail response to a Financial Times inquiry.
Financial Times 15.Sep.04
