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US acknowledges civilian was shot in Suez incident

The US Navy yesterday acknowledged and expressed regret that an Egyptian citizen was killed when a navy-contracted ship fired warning shots at approaching motor boats in the Suez Canal.

The Global Patriot, a civilian ship under short term contract to the US Navy, entered the Suez Canal on Monday and was approached at 8pm by small motor boats that conduct informal commerce with canal shipping, prompting the onboard navy security team to fire shots after issuing verbal warnings.

"The boats were hailed and warned by a native Arabic speaker using a bullhorn to warn them to turn away. A warning flare was then fired," the US embassy in Cairo said in a statement.

"One small boat continued to approach the ship and received two sets of warning shots 20-30 yards in front of the bow. All shots were accounted for as they entered the water."

"We express our deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased," Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, commander of the US 5th Fleet, said in a statement.

"We are greatly saddened by events that apparently resulted in this accidental death. This situation is tragic, and we will do our utmost to help take care of the family of the deceased," he said.

Cosgriff added that the investigation was continuing to determine exactly what happened.

Initial reports on Tuesday from the Global Patriot had said that all shots had been accounted for and there were no casualties.

The navy added that some form of compensation would be arranged for the family, which angrily buried 27-year-old father of two Mohammed Fouad on Tuesday amid recriminations against the US military and the Egyptian government.

"We're concerned about doing the right thing and help take care of the family, we will work with an advocate, we will coordinate through the right authorities and through the embassy," 5th Fleet spokeswoman Commander Lydia Robertson told reporters.

The US Navy has been very careful about the activities of small boats near their warships ever since an al-Qaeda suicide attack by an explosives-packed motorboat on the USS Cole in Yemen killed 17 sailors in 2000.

Robertson said the same rules of engagement as warships apply for ships under navy contract.

The waterborne merchants that ply the canal selling cigarettes and other products to passing shipping normally know not to approach military vessels, said the victim's brother Abdallah, adding that the Global Patriot had looked just like a civilian ship.

On Jan. 6, US Navy ships nearly opened fire on armed Iranian speedboats that repeatedly charged their convoy in the cramped waters of the Persian Gulf's Strait of Hormuz.
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