US express to Syria regret over killing civilians in bus bombing incident
Syria-USA, Politics, 3/27/2003

The US has expressed its regret over the killing of Syrian civilians in a bombardment of a bridge to the west of Iraq last Sunday, according to the US Department Of State on Wednesday.

A Department Of State spokesman said that the US ambassador to Syria Theodore Qattouf conveyed a message to the Syrian officials on Monday, just one day after the killing of 5 Syrians and wounding other ten when a missile hit a bus they were riding.

In a written answer to a question addressed to him on Tuesday in a press conference, the US spokesman said that the USA conveyed to the Syrians "our views that the civilian casualties resulted from the incident were regrettable." adding that the "American forces continue protection of civilians to every possible extent."

The bus was carrying 37 Syrian civilians who were coming back on Sunday morning when it was hit by a missile while crossing al-Ratba town, 160 KM from the Syrian- Iraqi borders, according to SANA.

The American army confirmed the incident on Monday and expressed regret over the incident, but held the Iraqi President responsible.

Previous Stories:
  Syria condemns US-UK attack against its bus   (3/25/2003)
  American, British embassies in Damascus closed   (3/21/2003)
  Damascus: the Americans, the British leave, the French deny danger   (2/24/2003)

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