Motive still unclear for Kuwait killing of Canadian

Five days after a Canadian was fatally shot in a Kuwait street, it is still not clear if it was related to the United States air strikes on Afghanistan, a Cabinet minister said today.

Information Minister Sheik Ahmed Fahd Al Ahmed Al Sabah said there was an ‘‘equal’’ chance of the killing being the result of either criminal motives or terrorism. He did not elaborate.

A gunman shot at Luc Ethier and his wife Mary Jane Vitos late on Wednesday night as they walked down a street.

Ethier, who was in his mid 30s, died instantly. Vitos, of the Philippines, is being treated for three bullet wounds. She was recently moved from the intensive care unit.

Newspapers today published a police sketch of the suspect who is apparently still at large. It was composed according to Vitos’ description of the attacker.

The sketch showed a young man with a short beard and light brown eyes. A traditional Arab red and white headdress was tied around his head, and he wore a light blue shirt.

A police official said Vitos told police the assailant shouted ‘‘God is great’’ moments before that attack.

The Philippines ambassador Sukarno D Tanggol said that Vitos denied that in conversations with him. The cry is sometimes associated with militant Muslim action.

Ethier worked as an aircraft technician at the Ahmed Al Jaber air base.

Tensions are high in the Middle East ast following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States and the retaliatory airstrikes on Afghanistan whose Taliban rulers protect prime suspect Osama bin Laden.

Western embassies have warned their nationals to keep a low profile and remain alert to their surroundings.

Bin Laden’s al Qaida terror network has recently warned Americans and British to leave the Gulf area before the land ‘‘burns with fire under their feet’’.