Rpts: Russia Doubts Convoy Hit on Purpose

AP | 4/10/03

[kattracks]

Rpts: Russia Doubts Convoy Hit on Purpose

.c The Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) - The Kremlin does not believe U.S. troops intentionally fired on a Russian diplomatic convoy as it evacuated Baghdad, the Interfax and ITAR-Tass news agencies reported Thursday, citing unidentified high-level Kremlin sources.

``What is most likely is that this was just irresponsible and outrageous behavior by particular servicemen,'' Interfax quoted its source as saying.

Kremlin spokesmen could not immediately be reached for comment, but the Russian government often uses such anonymous statements to Russian news agencies to express an official position.

Russia's ambassador to Iraq, Vladimir Titorenko, and a convoy of diplomats and journalists came under fire Sunday on the outskirts of Baghdad as they attempted to flee to Syria. Titorenko has accused American troops of intentionally firing on the convoy, but U.S. officials insist it is unclear who was responsible. Moscow said at least four people in the convoy were wounded.

Russian media have reported that there were two cars with Iraqis in front of the column, and that several of their occupants were killed in the firing.

U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow told Echo of Moscow radio on Tuesday that the Russian convoy apparently changed its itinerary without informing U.S. officials. That account has been corroborated by several Russian journalists who were in the convoy.

04/10/03 21:04 EDT

[thoughtomator]

Officially anyway.


Unofficially, this was a warning shot across the bow.

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[PokeyJoe]

In the immortal words of Baghdad Bob, "Bus? What Bus?"

[RS]

"The Kremlin does not believe U.S. troops intentionally fired on a Russian diplomatic convoy as it evacuated Baghdad"

Good thinking guys - just take a look at what's left of the convoys that we DID intend to fire on.

[11B3]

There were a couple of things odd about this entire convoy:

1. It was not on its' designated course that was cleared with American forces.

2. It had more personnel with it than were reported prior to departure.

The convoy was hit in order to see if possibly the Russians were doing a 'dress rehearsal' for evacuating Saddam. Now he has to find a new way out of the country other than with the Russian embassy staff. Note that the Russian ambassador is mysteriously back in Baghdad. How the hell did he get back unnoticed?

I said it the first night that the Russians complained about us bombing close to their embassy, and I'll say it again: Saddam is in (or under) the Russian Embassy grounds. He has no place safer to hide than there - the trick is going to be to make the Russians decide that it is in their best interests to give him up. If they wait too long, however, their trump card will turn into a disaster for them by proving their level of support for this POS.

[potlatch]

I know that I read something the other day saying that it was probabily done on purpose. Two Russian Generals supposedly were helping the Iraqi's with encription, and transmission of messages.

The convoy was believed to be taking the equipment, they used, out of the country. Did anyone else read this??

[eddie willers]

Wonder if the Chinese Embasy was a mistake too?

Not a chance.

[Cindy]

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[Fulbright]

I wonder who was hiding under the tarps in this (gag) "diplomatic convoy."