Iraq5 March 2005
UN asked to investigate US shooting of Italian journalist and military
intelligence officer
Reporters Without Borders today called for a UN investigation to shed
light on the circumstances in which the US military fired on a vehicle
carrying the newly freed Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena yesterday
in Baghdad, injuring Sgrena and killing an Italian military officer
accompanying her.
"A thorough investigation must be quickly carried out by the United
Nations into this blunder with tragic consequences," Reporters Without
Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard said.
"It is clear that his enquiry cannot be conducted just by the US army
which in the past, especially in the case of the Palestine Hotel
shooting that killed two journalists, produced reports aimed solely at
exonerating the military," Ménard said, adding, "we demand to know the
full truth about this distressing affair."
Reporters Without Borders had voiced "extreme disappointment" about
the report of the US army's enquiry into the April 2003 Palestine
Hotel shooting, which cleared the coalition forces of any fault or
negligence.
In yesterday's incident, the convoy of cars taking Sgrena back to
Baghdad following her release from captivity was fired on by US
military at a checkpoint near the airport. One of the Italian military
officers protecting her was killed and at least one other was wounded.
Sgrena was wounded in the shoulder.
The US military have claimed that the soldiers involved respected
procedures and warned the convoy to stop before opening fire. A
Pentagon official has said an investigation will be conducted into the
incident.
"Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one,some bigger than others"
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