16/10/2003

'Outrage' as Gaza bombing kills three US officials

The US Secretary of State has expressed his "outrage" following yesterday's attack on a diplomatic convoy in Gaza in which three US officials died.

The men – reported to be a diplomat and two security guards – were killed, and another was injured, when a concealed bomb or landmine was detonated.

Three people have since been arrested today by Palestinian authorities in relation to the incident. The men were arrested in Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza.

It is believed that a breakaway group from Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement – the Popular Resistance Committee – was responsible for the attack.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the men had been in the area on a "mission of peace". They were apparently in the area to interview Palestinians for Fulbright scholarships to study or teach in the US.

Mr Powell added: "They were helping the Palestinian people. They were murdered by terrorists, the same terrorists who have killed so many others and who are killing the dreams of the Palestinian people."

The former head of the US armed forces said that he had urged, "in the strongest possible term", both Palestinians and Israelis to put an end terrorism immediately.

Mr Powell said that he had spoken to Prime Minister Qureia of the Palestinian Authority and made it clear that he expected "full cooperation in investigating this heinous act and in bringing the murderers to justice".

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan also strongly condemned the attack and he urged the Palestinian Authority to bring the guilty to justice "speedily".

(gmcg)

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