[an error occurred while processing this directive] BBC News
watch One-Minute World News Last Updated: Thursday, 29 April,
2004, 15:14 GMT 16:14 UK US Marines deny Falluja violations A US
Marine spokesman has strongly rejected widespread allegations
that civilians have been targeted during the three-week siege of
the Iraqi city of Falluja.  Maj TV Johnson told BBC News Online
that allegations that Marines had shot at ambulances and non-
combatant civilians, and denied access to the main hospital,
were "very serious" but had "little substance".   "Discipline,
well-aimed fire, respect for the law of land warfare and human
decency are all hallmarks of United States Marines," Maj Johnson
said.  "The behaviour described in the collection of allegations
is nothing short of criminal. Marines do not fire on non-
combatants... period," he added.  With approximately 35
journalists embedded with US Marines in Falluja, Maj Johnson
asked why such allegations had not appeared in the first-hand
reports of these journalists.