US military briefing on riots, investigation into deaths
(31 May 2006) SHOTLIST Kabul - 29 May 2006 1. Various panning shots of protesters throwing stones at US convoy, UPSOUND: gunshots coming from US convoy Kabul - 31 May 2006 2. Wide of press conference 3. Press 4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Colonel Tom Collins, U.S. Military spokesman: "Our initial investigation and again I want to underscore this is very early in the process, shows that fire came from the crowd and our soldiers used their weapons to defend themselves. There is a lot we do not know. 5. Cutaway of cameraman 6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Colonel Tom Collins, U.S. Military spokesman: "Just because coalition soldiers weren't hurt or injured, it doesn't mean that there wasn't imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death to them. Our people are very well trained, they know how to react to situations." File Kabul - 29 May 2006 7. Protestors throwing stones 8. Protesters throwing stones at US convoy, UPSOUND: gunshots coming from US convoy STORYLINE The U.S. military said Wednesday it is investigating whether its troops involved in a deadly road crash that sparked the worst riot in Kabul in years fired their guns into a group of demonstrators or over their heads. U.S. military spokesman Colonel Tom Collins said at a press conference in Kabul that he had been informed by the Afghan Ministry of Health that the toll from the unrest had risen to 20 dead, with more than 160 wounded. A spokesman for the ministry, Abdullah Fahim, said the final toll was still being counted and would be released later Wednesday. Hospital officials say most of the dead and wounded were shot. Rioters stoned the U.S. convoy involved in Monday's crash, then headed to the city centre, ransacking offices of international aid groups and searching for foreigners. Collins said some of the rioters who were throwing stones at the U.S. troops also had weapons and were firing at them. "Our initial investigation and again I want to underscore this is very early in the process, shows that fire came from the crowd and our soldiers used their weapons to defend themselves," Collins told reporters in Kabul. Though no U.S. soldiers were hurt in the riot, the spokesman said this did not mean they were not in danger. "Just because coalition soldiers weren't hurt or injured, it doesn't mean that there wasn't imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death to them." Witnesses claim US forces fired at the protestors. AP Television News Pictures on Monday showed gunfire coming form a US military vehicle driving past protestors as well as Afghan troops firing at crowds. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
