Report finds U.S. shooting of Reuters soundman unlawful

reutersalertnet: U.S. soldiers who shot dead a Reuters television soundman in Iraq last year breached their rules of engagement and the killing was "unlawful", an independent investigation commissioned by Reuters has found.

Waleed Khaled died and cameraman Haider Kadhem was wounded on Aug. 28 when the troops fired on their car in Baghdad as the two Iraqis covered the aftermath of an attack on policemen.

An investigation by the Army unit involved found that its soldiers had acted within rules of engagement that allow them to fire if they feel under threat.

But The Risk Advisory Group (TRAG), a risk management consultancy asked by Reuters to examine the incident, said the use of force was neither proportionate nor justified.

US 'lost' the footage

It said the Army inquiry conclusions were not supported by the evidence -- including the testimony of the soldiers themselves -- and expressed incomprehension that crucial footage shot by Kadhem had somehow been lost by the military. Read more