[induffike]

AFP: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...96f28a0c53.5c1

Baghdad's city hall has demanded $1 billion and an apology from the US military, accusing the force that led an invasion to oust Saddam Hussein of turning a "beautiful city into a military camp."

In a statement published on its website late on Wednesday, the city council cited damage done to the city by the erection of concrete blast walls, seen throughout the Iraqi capital, as well as the use of Humvee military vehicles.

"Baghdad city council demands the United States pay compensation estimated at $1 billion as a result of damage to infrastructure and issue an apology to the people of Baghdad," the statement said.

"Anyone can recognise what American forces have done to Baghdad by turning this beautiful city into a military camp and destroying streets and communities."

The statement added that it was asking for the damages "because of mistakes by the American army and its neglect of projects completed by Baghdad city hall" in previous years.