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Berg's dad blames Rumsfeld
17/05/2004 11:03 - (SA)
Jerusalem - The father of an American beheaded in Iraq said in an interview broadcast on Monday that he holds US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld responsible for his son's death and called for his resignation.
Nicholas Berg's headless body was found May 9 in western Baghdad. Three days later, a videotape posted on an al-Qaeda-related website showed him being decapitated by hooded men.
Berg's captors said the killing was to avenge abuses of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison by US forces.
Speaking to Israel Army Radio, Berg's father, Michael, said Rumsfeld bears most of the responsibility for his son's death.
"I very definitely do hold the department of defence, the FBI, the Bush administration and especially Donald Rumsfeld responsible," Michael Berg said.
"He (Rumsfeld) said he is taking responsibility for the sexual abuse scandal ... he hasn't really taken responsibility, he didn't lose his son, he didn't lose anything," Berg said.
"I think that a resignation will be great, I would love it," he said.
Berg, 26, went to Iraq looking for work rebuilding the country's telecommunications infrastructure.
Michael Berg said the only reason his son had been killed was because of American actions in Iraq.
"These people had nothing against my son, they couldn't have had anything against my son. They were against what the United States is doing to their section of the world," he said.
Michael Berg also said the fact his son had visited Israel may have contributed to his death.
"I'm sure they got his passport so I'm sure they knew he had been in Israel, but he wasn't acting on behalf of Israel in any way," he told the radio.
- AP
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