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US army: We killed journalists
30/03/2004 06:47 - (SA)
Baghdad - The US army admitted responsibility on Monday for the "accidental" killing of two Iraqi journalists working for the al-Arabiya satellite news channel earlier this month.
"We are accepting responsibility" for the death of the journalists, a senior US military spokesperson said.
Cameraman Ali Abdul Aziz, 35, and reporter Ali al-Khatib, 32, were working for the Dubai-based station when they were shot on March 18 during an incident near the Burj al-Hayat hotel in central Baghdad.
Abdul Aziz was shot in the head and died immediately, while Khatib succumbed to his wounds the next day.
"We regret the accidental shooting of the al-Arabiya employees," said a coalition statement, adding that US troops had intended to hit a Volvo in front of the journalists' car which had charged a checkpoint at high speed.
"It is likely that the Kia (car used by the journalists) was unintentionally struck by four to six rounds aimed at the Volvo" and fired "in self-defence," it said.
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