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UN Lebanon deaths 'tragic error' | UN Lebanon deaths 'tragic error' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
An Israeli bombing raid on a UN post in southern Lebanon in July that killed four peacekeepers was the result of a "tragic error", Israel has said. | |
An official Israeli inquiry found the post was wrongly targeted because of flawed military maps of the area during the conflict with Hezbollah. | An official Israeli inquiry found the post was wrongly targeted because of flawed military maps of the area during the conflict with Hezbollah. |
Observers from China, Austria, Finland and Canada were killed in the raid. | Observers from China, Austria, Finland and Canada were killed in the raid. |
The UN said that, prior to the bombing, it had contacted Israel several times to ask it to stop firing in the area. | The UN said that, prior to the bombing, it had contacted Israel several times to ask it to stop firing in the area. |
The UN post, in the town of Khiam, is thought to have been hit by precision-guided munitions in the attack on 26 July. | The UN post, in the town of Khiam, is thought to have been hit by precision-guided munitions in the attack on 26 July. |
At the time, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan described the raid as "apparently deliberate". | At the time, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan described the raid as "apparently deliberate". |
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed "deep regrets" over the deaths. | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed "deep regrets" over the deaths. |
Delicate relationship | Delicate relationship |
The Israeli investigation found that there had been a mistake in the duplication of maps during the deployment of fresh troops to the area, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said. | The Israeli investigation found that there had been a mistake in the duplication of maps during the deployment of fresh troops to the area, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said. |
"In that process, unfortunately, the UN post was not accurately mapped," he said. "When our aircraft launched its ordnance it believed it was targeting Hezbollah." | "In that process, unfortunately, the UN post was not accurately mapped," he said. "When our aircraft launched its ordnance it believed it was targeting Hezbollah." |
He described the incident to the BBC as "a tragic error, a mistake". | He described the incident to the BBC as "a tragic error, a mistake". |
Israel's findings have been sent to each of the four countries from where the killed peacekeepers came, Mr Regev said. | Israel's findings have been sent to each of the four countries from where the killed peacekeepers came, Mr Regev said. |
The UN is preparing its own report into the attack. | The UN is preparing its own report into the attack. |
The UN and Israel are currently engaged in sensitive negotiations over the transition to peace in southern Lebanon as well as attempts to forge a new relationship between Israel and the Palestinians. | The UN and Israel are currently engaged in sensitive negotiations over the transition to peace in southern Lebanon as well as attempts to forge a new relationship between Israel and the Palestinians. |
Conflicting reports, with different interpretations of the attack, could cause friction in that delicate relationship, the BBC's Jill McGivering in Jerusalem says. | Conflicting reports, with different interpretations of the attack, could cause friction in that delicate relationship, the BBC's Jill McGivering in Jerusalem says. |