Monday, May 11, 2009

Gates Expresses 'Horror,' Regret Over Camp Liberty Shooting

American Forces Press Service

May 11, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today expressed shock and regret over the shooting death of five Americans in Iraq, allegedly by a U.S. soldier. "I would like to express my horror and deep regret over today's shooting incident at Camp Liberty in Iraq," Gates said at a Pentagon news briefing. "I offer my sympathy and condolences to the families of those who were killed.

"We are still in the process of gathering information on exactly what happened, but if the preliminary reports are confirmed, such a tragic loss of life at the hands of our own forces is a cause for great and urgent concern, and I can assure you that it will get this department's highest-priority attention."

An American soldier suspected in involvement in the shooting at the U.S. base in Baghdad is in U.S. custody, defense officials said earlier in the day. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. local time on Camp Liberty, officials said.

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