US embassy admits killing of Egyptian by gunfire
Updated: 2008-03-26 21:17
CAIRO -- The US embassy in Cairo Wednesday admitted the killing of one Egyptian when a US Navy chartered ship opened fire at an Egyptian boat Monday night near the Suez Canal.
In a press release, the embassy said it appears that an Egyptian was killed when "Global Patriot", a ship on short term charter to the US Navy, fired warning shots at an approaching small boat as it was about to transit the Suez Canal Monday evening.
Noting that the US Navy's fifth Fleet Command is cooperating with Egyptian authorities, the US embassy expressed its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.
The US navy on Tuesday also expressed its regret on the Suez Canal incident.
According to local newspaper Al Ahram Wednesday, one Egyptian was killed and three others wounded in the incident.
As of press time, no official response has yet come from the Egyptian foreign ministry.
On Tuesday, Egyptian security sources said the incident left one Egyptian killed and two others wounded, but the US embassy in Cairo initially denied any reported casualties.
The ship "Global Patriot" opened fire when the small boat approached the ship on the seawater some five km off the Suez Port while preparing to transit the Suez Canal, the Egyptian security sources said on condition of anonymity.
The US ship shot immediately without any caution when the small boat approached, killing an Egyptian on board and wounding two others, said the sources.
The opening fire by the American vessel caused protests by Egyptians near the port, added the sources.
According to the Egyptian official MENA news agency, Mohamed Mokhtar Afifi was killed and two others injured by the shooting as their boat came to sell goods to the crew of the US navy ship.
Egyptian Minister of Legal Affairs and Parliamentary Councils Moufed Shehab said Tuesday that the Egyptian government will post the parliament on the investigation results of the incident, pledging full protection of its citizens.
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