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Sources: Gaza blast kills 3 Americans
Wednesday, October 15, 2003 Posted: 7:07 AM EDT (1107 GMT)
GAZA CITY (CNN) -- At least three Americans were killed and another seriously wounded Wednesday when an explosion hit a U.S. Embassy convoy in northern Gaza near the border with Israel, according to U.S. and Israeli sources.
A senior administration official in Washington confirmed that the four American casualties were employed by the U.S. Embassy to provide security. The official described the Americans as government contractors.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
U.S. Ambassador John Wolf was not in the country at the time of the attack, despite media reports that said he was in the convoy, the embassy said.
The three-car convoy was carrying at least 12 Americans and was escorted by Palestinian security, Israeli sources said.
U.S. officials frequently travel through Palestinian territories at the request of the Palestinian Authority to monitor the Mideast peace process, according to Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat.
Palestinian police cars were leading the U.S. convoy, when the blast hit the lead U.S. vehicle, the Palestinian sources said.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei strongly condemned the attack, offered his condolences, and promised an investigation.
Erakat also offered his condolences and condemned the attack.
"These people were here to help us," Erakat insisted, saying an attack on what he described as U.S. monitors was not in the interest of the Palestinian people. "I don't think this was a deliberate attack against the Americans."
"We offer to have an immediate, joint Palestinian-American investigation committee to investigate the matter," Erakat said.
Erakat said the Americans were in Gaza at the request of the Palestinians as part of the U.S.-backed "road map" for peace in the region.
The road map -- a plan put forth by the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations -- calls for an end to "violence and terrorism" and envisions an independent Palestinian state existing side by side with Israel.
The bodies of the three Americans and their injured colleague were evacuated into Israel, U.S. and Israeli sources said.
It was not clear whether the explosion, near Beit Hanoun, was the result of a suicide bombing or a roadside bomb. It also was not clear whether the convoy was the target of the attack.
The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv said it was investigating.
Video of the scene showed a crater, about three feet deep and eight feet across.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/...ast/index.html
Wednesday, October 15, 2003 Posted: 7:07 AM EDT (1107 GMT)
GAZA CITY (CNN) -- At least three Americans were killed and another seriously wounded Wednesday when an explosion hit a U.S. Embassy convoy in northern Gaza near the border with Israel, according to U.S. and Israeli sources.
A senior administration official in Washington confirmed that the four American casualties were employed by the U.S. Embassy to provide security. The official described the Americans as government contractors.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
U.S. Ambassador John Wolf was not in the country at the time of the attack, despite media reports that said he was in the convoy, the embassy said.
The three-car convoy was carrying at least 12 Americans and was escorted by Palestinian security, Israeli sources said.
U.S. officials frequently travel through Palestinian territories at the request of the Palestinian Authority to monitor the Mideast peace process, according to Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat.
Palestinian police cars were leading the U.S. convoy, when the blast hit the lead U.S. vehicle, the Palestinian sources said.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei strongly condemned the attack, offered his condolences, and promised an investigation.
Erakat also offered his condolences and condemned the attack.
"These people were here to help us," Erakat insisted, saying an attack on what he described as U.S. monitors was not in the interest of the Palestinian people. "I don't think this was a deliberate attack against the Americans."
"We offer to have an immediate, joint Palestinian-American investigation committee to investigate the matter," Erakat said.
Erakat said the Americans were in Gaza at the request of the Palestinians as part of the U.S.-backed "road map" for peace in the region.
The road map -- a plan put forth by the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations -- calls for an end to "violence and terrorism" and envisions an independent Palestinian state existing side by side with Israel.
The bodies of the three Americans and their injured colleague were evacuated into Israel, U.S. and Israeli sources said.
It was not clear whether the explosion, near Beit Hanoun, was the result of a suicide bombing or a roadside bomb. It also was not clear whether the convoy was the target of the attack.
The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv said it was investigating.
Video of the scene showed a crater, about three feet deep and eight feet across.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/...ast/index.html
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