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08 April 2003

U.S. Investigating Attack on Russian Embassy Convoy in Iraq

(Deputy State Department Spokesman Philip Reeker statement) (210)
The United States is investigating the April 6 incident in which a
convoy of Russian diplomats came under fire while leaving Baghdad for
Syria, State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip T. Reeker said April
8.
"This is a matter of extreme seriousness. The sanctity of diplomatic
personages is very important to us as well as the international
community and must be upheld," he said.
The statement follows:
(begin text)
U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
April 8, 2003
Statement by Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman
RUSSIAN EMBASSY CONVOY INCIDENT
The United States is investigating the regrettable April 6 incident in
which Russian diplomats and others traveling with them came under fire
while leaving Baghdad for Syria. This is a matter of extreme
seriousness. The sanctity of diplomatic personages is very important
to us as well as the international community and must be upheld.
No determination has yet been made as to precisely what happened or
whose forces were involved -- we are trying to establish these facts.
We are in close communication with the Russian government on this
matter. We will communicate fully the findings to the Government of
Russia as soon as they are available.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)