Australia apologises for shooting Iraqi minister's bodyguard

The Australian government apologised today for a shooting incident in which a bodyguard for the Iraqi Trade Minister and a civilian were killed by security forces guarding the Australian ambassador, an Iraqi official said.

The mistaken gun battle occurred yesterday in the car park of the Trade Ministry in Baghdad when the men guarding Australian Ambassador Howard Brown, who was going into the building for a meeting, opened fire after thinking they were threatened by security men assigned to Trade Minister Abdul-Falah al-Sudani.

One of the minister’s bodyguards was killed along with a civilian. Three other guards were wounded.

Ministry spokesman Mohamed Hanon said Brown telephoned al-Sudani this morning to apologise and to express the Australian government’s condolences to the families of the victims.

Defence Force Vice Chief Lt. Gen. Ken Gillespie confirmed that Australian security personnel were involved in the shooting, and vowed the incident would be “formally and fully investigated.”