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Alert

US army admits firing on Reuters crew

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has called for immediate sanctions against the US soldiers who fired on a Reuters television crew after US army spokesman Gen. Rick Lynch acknowledged on 1 September 2005 that American troops did indeed fire the shots that killed soundman Waleed Khaled and injured cameraman Haider Kadhem on 28 August.

"We deplore the attitude of the US army in waiting nearly a week before recognising its responsibility in the incident that cost Waleed Khaled's life," the organisation said. "Not only have they given ridiculous explanations, but they have also failed to apologise to the families of the victims of this tragedy."

RSF added, "We call for those responsible to be punished and we appeal to the US soldiers stationed in Iraq to be more discerning in the future."

Claiming that the US soldiers "took appropriate measures," Gen. Lynch said, "What our soldiers on the scene saw was a car travelling forward at a high rate of speed. [It] looked like cars that we have seen in the past used as suicide bombs . . . and there were two local nationals inside."

Khaled died as a result of this lack of discernment. Reuters said Khaled had two press cards pinned to his chest at the time, one issued by the US army and the other issued by the British news agency. Both were found covered in blood and one of them had two bullet holes, Reuters added.