Posted on 02/04/2004 7:59:36 PM PST by serurier
MADRID, Spain - A Spanish military adviser who fell into a coma after being seriously wounded in a shootout in Iraq (news - web sites) last month died Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said.
Civil Guard commander Gonzalo Perez Garcia's death brought to 11 the number of Spaniards who have been killed in Iraq since last August.
Perez Garcia was shot in the head on Jan. 22 after the pre-dawn raid of a suspected terrorist hideout in southern Iraq.
He fell into a coma and was flown back to Spain on Jan. 23. He died in a Madrid military hospital shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday, the ministry said.
Although not a member of the armed forces, Perez Garcia, 42, was a security adviser for the 1,300 Spanish troops in Iraq. He was married and had three daughters.
Last month's shootout occurred in the town of Hamsa, about 25 miles south of Diwaniyah, where the Spanish troops are based.
King Juan Carlos sent a telegram of condolence to the family and the Civil Guard upon hearing the news, the national news agency Efe said.
Spain's conservative Popular Party government was one of the strongest supporters of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq despite massive public opposition.
Bless spain !
Amen, serurier, and Perez Garcia's loved ones, and his troops.
Although not a member of the armed forces, Perez Garcia, 42, was a security adviser for the 1,300 Spanish troops in Iraq. He was married and had three daughters.
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