"We are aware of 34 dead in the camp and its immediate environs," UN spokesman Farhan Haq said. "We're trying to get further details."

He said U.N. officials visited the camp on Wednesday.

The fatality count was the same number of deaths Camp Ashraf residents had reported. Their death toll was disputed by Iraqi authorities, who said only three people were killed in the operation and others were dead before troops moved in.

Iraqi authorities say the three were killed when security forces responded to rock-throwing and threats by residents during an operation to reclaim land from the camp and return it to farmers. The Iraqi Defense Ministry has said it will launch an investigation into the operation.

Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the U.N. confirmation was "deeply disturbing and the Iraqi military action is simply unacceptable."

He said in a statement that the situation at the camp was untenable and urged the Iraqis to take "corrective action" and "stop the bleeding."

Reuters