A horrific video showing US helicopter pilots gunning down a group of Iraqis including two journalists has caused outrage after being leaked online. In the 20-minute video taken from an Apache helicopter gun sight, the crew can be heard discussing the carnage as if they were playing a video game. They are heard callously laughing, before one pilot boasts: "Look at those dead bastards". His co-pilot responds: "Nice." The whistleblowers' website WikiLeaks released the video yesterday of what it describes as three incidents of an "indiscriminate slaying" by US forces near Baghdad on July 12, 2007. WikiLeaks said as many as 25 civilians were killed, including two Reuters reporters. Two children were also wounded. The US military said in a statement at the time that a total of 11 people died in the strikes conducted by American and Iraqi forces. The military claims that the US followed the appropriate "Rules of Engagement" during the incidents. At the time, the Pentagon said US troops were hit by rocket-propelled grenades (RPG's) and small arms fire while caught in a clash with insurgents. The video shows military personnel aboard the Apaches indicating they spot the suspects toting several AK-47s and several RPG's. But WikiLeaks claims that the Reuters photographers were carrying cameras, which the troops mistook for weapons. The helicopters circle multiple times before opening fire. In the second incident captured by the video, US forces open fire again after a van arrives to pick up casualties from the first attack. Later, American ground troops pull into the courtyard in an armoured Humvee and appear to drive over one of the casualties. Soon after, the same helicopters spot several individuals entering a nearby building. US troops receive permission to strike again, this time with Hellfire missiles
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