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 From: ob110ob@aatt.net 
  
         
  
  
 News BriefNews Brief 
 Blair misled world on Iraq mass grave body count 
 by Lisa Ashkenaz Croke (bio) 
  
 Jul 20 - Prime Minister Tony Blair's office admitted 
 that he exaggerated the number of bodies found in mass 
 graves throughout Iraq by about 88 percent. The 
 Observer revealed June 18 that its own calculations 
 found that 5,000 bodies have been recovered from 55 
 gravesites; according to the British publication, 
 Downing Street has confirmed the number. The Observer 
 notes that an additional 215 suspected mass gravesites 
 have yet to be examined and confirmed. 
  
 During a joint press conference held by Prime Minister 
 Blair and President George W. Bush last year in London, 
 Blair admonished critics of the countries' actions 
 against Iraq, stating: "When we've already discovered 
 just so far the remains of 400,000 people in mass 
 graves -- there is something bizarre about these 
 situations happening, and people saying that they 
 disagree..." 
  
 Blair's claim was widely used as further justification 
 for deposing Saddam Hussein. A graphic report from the 
 US Agency for International Development (USAID) 
 released this January entitled "Iraq's Legacy of 
 Terror: Mass Graves" features the claim on its first 
 page. A USAID press release dated June 15 also contains 
 Blair's assertion. 
  
 € 2004 The NewStandard. See our reprint policy. 
  
 Secondary sources used in this news brief: 
 The Observer (UK): "PM admits graves claim 'untrue'" 
 News Article  RECOMMENDED LINK 
 US State Dept. Transcript: "President Bush, Prime 
 Minister Hold Joint Press Conference"  Press Release 
 USAID [PDF format]: "Iraq's Legacy of Terror: Mass 
 Graves"  Study/Report 
  
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