American civilian killed in Kuwait gun ambush

AN American civilian was killed and another man critically wounded yesterday after a gunman sprayed their vehicle with bullets during an ambush in Kuwait.

It was the first shooting of US civilians in Kuwait and the third shooting of Americans since October in the oil-rich emirate, where thousands of US troops are assembling for a possible strike on Iraq.

"We condemn this terrorist incident, which has tragically cost the life of an innocent American citizen," said US Ambassador to Kuwait, Richard Jones.

In Washington, the White House said Americans are working with Kuwaiti investigators to determine who was behind the attack.

"The president's heart goes out to the families affected by this attack," spokesman Ari Fleischer said. "It is a reminder of the dangers and risks servicemen and women face every day in service to our country."

The victims both civilians working for the US military were travelling in a Toyota Landcruiser when they were hit by a hail of bullets that killed 46-year-old Michael Rene Pouliot, of San Diego, California.

The other man, whose identity was withheld pending notification of next of kin, was wounded in the chest, arm and thigh, officials said.

A US spokesman said Mr Pouliot worked for Tapestry Solutions, a software development company based in San Diego.

Kuwaiti officials said a lone gunman fired an automatic rifle from behind trees and bushes at a junction three miles from Camp Doha a US base housing 17,000 American troops.

It was not immediately clear if the gunman had accomplices. Kuwaiti security forces were questioning witnesses and fanning out across Kuwait City, the capital, in search of those responsible.

The injured man underwent surgery and a US embassy statement said he was critically wounded. But a Kuwaiti hospital official said the man was in a stable condition He said surgeons removed several bullets from his body.