FBI to probe attack; U.S. tells citizens to leave Gaza

Haaretz ^ | Last Update: 15/10/2003 18:07 | Nathan Guttman, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and agencies

[priceofreedom]

Last Update: 15/10/2003 18:07

FBI to probe attack; U.S. tells citizens to leave Gaza

By Nathan Guttman, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and agencies

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell urged Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia to act against militants after a Gaza Strip bombing that killed three U.S. security men, a senior Palestinian official said.

"Powell told the prime minister it was important that the Palestinian Authority take action to put an end to violence and 'terrorism'," said Hassan Abu Libeh, the head of Qureia's office.

Powell's comments came in a call Qureia made to the secretary of

state to express his deepest regrets and promise to investigate the bombing of a U.S. embassy convoy and cooperate fully with any U.S. investigation, Abu Libeh told Reuters.

"The prime minister said the (Palestinian) Authority had already began considering measures to ensure that no such incidents occur in the future," he added.

Militant groups have denied any involvement in the roadside bombing.

The U.S. ambassador to Israel also called on Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority on Wednesday to capture the bombers that killed three U.S. security men.

Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer told reporters that Washington would continue to work for an end to Palestinian-Israeli violence despite the bombing, an unprecedented attack on U.S. officials in the three-year conflict.

"We are shocked by this latest terrorist outrage. The United States government will investigate fully and work with the relevant authorities to bring to justice those responsible for this senseless and brutal attack. The U.S. will also continue assisting the parties as they seek ways to stop the terror and to achieve peace," Kurtzer told reporters.

Kurtzer also said that the FBI was sending a team to investigate the bombing.

In the wake of the attack, the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv also advised American citizens to leave Gaza.

"There are several hundred American citizens in Gaza, both Palestinian Americans and Americans working for a variety of organizations, including humanitarian and other international organizations. The Palestinian Americans living there will obviously make their own decisions with respect to whether they stay, those involved in humanitarian and other forms and assistance will also make their decision," Kurtzer said.

Responding to the attack, a State Department spokeswoman said the U.S. would pursue the people who carried out the attack until they are brought to justice. "Our sympathies go out to these brave men and their families... The United States will pursue the perpetrators until they are caught and brought to justice," said State Department spokeswoman Brooke Summers.

Summers said an explosive device planted in advance destroyed the second vehicle in a three-vehicle convoy taking U.S. officials to interview Palestinian candidates for Fulbright scholarships in the United States.

This is the first fatal attack on American diplomats in the three years of the intifada.

Sources in the U.S. administration said they expect the Palestinian Authority to carry out a full and fundamental investigation of the incident to determine those responsible.

Earlier Wednesday, U.S. ambassador to Washington Danny Ayalon spoke with administration officials, expressing Israel's condolences for the deaths of the three Americans killed in the bombing.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer speaking to reporters at a press conference Wednesday at the American embassy in Tel Aviv (top); the American flag at half mast at the U.S. embassy following the Gaza bombing. (Ariel Schalit)

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[blackdog]

Ruh-Roh.....We are being probed for determination of current testicular size. The hounds of hell in F-18's and a few dozen Predator's on a circular holding pattern fitted with hellfires and Napalm had better make an appearance mighty quick or Arab skull mush will come to the conclusion that America has no balls.

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[browardchad]

How interesting that this article doesn't mention that the first team of Americans sent to investigate the bombing were attacked by Pali kids with rocks, and had to get the heck out of there (film on FNC). Who's investigating now -- robots?