"Coalition forces attacked more than once MKO camps in Iraq," said Andrew Greenstock, using the group's acronym but without indicating when the attacks took place.

"The MKO is not only a terrorist organisation according to Britain, but they were also part of the Iraqi armed forces" which constituted obstacles to the US-led operation in Iraq, Greenstock added.

The group said last week that around 30 of its fighters were killed and more than 40 wounded during clashes which it said were with forces sent over the border with Tehran.

The People's Mujahedeen was instrumental in the overthrow of the shah of Iran in 1979 but was later forced out of the country by the Islamic regime and set up camp in Iraq, where it boasts several bases and thousands of fighters.

In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States the group was tagged a terrorist organisation by Washington and the European Union, an allegation it strongly denies, saying it is a legitimate resistance movement.

The group professed neutrality in the US-led war against Saddam Hussein's regime and denies assisting it.

More than 70 members of the People's Mujahedeen, including a prominent Iranian singer, have been stuck for more than 48 hours in no man's land on Iraq's border with Jordan, an official with an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) said Tuesday.

The Mujahedeen said they were political refugees living outside Iraq, who had been blocked from returning home by the war while visiting relatives and Shiite shrines in the country.

SPACE.WIRE