Berg 'never under US custody'

2004-05-12 16:27

Baghdad - The young American who was decapitated on a videotape posted by an al-Qaeda linked website was never under US custody despite claims from his family, coalition spokesperson Dan Senor said on Wednesday.

Senor told reporters that Berg, 26, from West Chester, Pennsylvania, was detained by Iraqi police in Mosul. The Iraqis informed the Americans and the FBI met with Berg three times to determine what he was doing in Iraq.

Senor said that to his knowledge, "he (Berg) was at no time under the jurisdiction or detention of coalition forces."

However, calls to police in Mosul failed to find anyone who could confirm Berg was held there or why.

Asked for details about Berg's last weeks in Iraq, Senor replied: "We are obviously trying to piece all this together, and there's a thorough investigation." But he said he was reluctant at this time to release details.

"The US government is committed to a very thorough and robust investigation to get to the bottom of this," Senor said. "As I said, everybody is shocked by the horrific images of this terrorist act."

He said "multiple" US agencies would be involved in the Berg case and that the FBI would probably have overall direction.

- AP