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Iran Dissidents Killed at Iraq's Camp Ashraf


In this file photo taken February 17, 2012, Iraqi security forces are seen entering through the main gate of Camp Ashraf, northeast of Baghdad.
In this file photo taken February 17, 2012, Iraqi security forces are seen entering through the main gate of Camp Ashraf, northeast of Baghdad.
An Iranian dissident group and Iraqi authorities say clashes and explosions at a contested camp housing Iranian dissidents have killed some of the group's members.

The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, known as MEK, and the Iraqi government have offered different accounts of Sunday's unrest.

MEK says a raid launched by Iraqi security forces killed at least 44 people at Camp Ashraf, a community northeast of Baghdad that is home to about 100 MEK members who oppose Iran's clerical regime.

Iraqi authorities say camp residents were killed as a result of infighting, and denied Iraqi forces were involved. But a police official, who wished to remain anonymous, said rockets did hit the camp after residents came out and attacked an Iraqi brigade.

Iraqi authorities say they are still trying to determine the number of casualties.

The United Nations said it "deplores" the events Sunday at Camp Ashraf and plans to deploy a mission to the camp to conduct its own assessment of the violence. It said it is the duty of Iraq to "ensure the safety and security" of the camp's residents.
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