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2003-12-29 Africa: Central

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Posted by Seafarious 2003-12-29 12:29:31 PM|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 More details:
Army officials in the tiny African country said papal nuncio Michael Courtney was ambushed by National Liberation Forces (FNL) rebels and shot three times. The 58-year-old Irishman later died while undergoing surgery. "The nuncio was ambushed this afternoon by elements of the FNL near the Minago locality 25 miles south of Bujumbura," army spokesman Augustin Nzabampema said. The FNL immediately denied any involvement and condemned the shooting. "We have nothing against the nuncio. We have men in the area where he was ambushed, but I swear it wasn't us who attacked him," rebel spokesman Pasteur Habimana told Reuters. The army said Courtney had been traveling in a diplomatic car flying the Vatican flag. The other two occupants of the vehicle, both Burundian and one a priest, escaped the ambush uninjured. "They deliberately killed him, but we do not know the reason," the army spokesman said. A Burundian clergyman said Courtney had been returning from a funeral for a priest in Minago. Courtney, who had lived in Burundi for three years, had been due to leave for Cuba in the next few weeks, said the clergyman, who asked not to be named. "The nuncio received three bullets, one in the head behind the right ear, another in the thorax and a third in the right leg," said Tharcisse Nzeyimana, a senior official at the Prince Louis Clinic in Bujumbura.

Posted by seafarious 2003-12-29 1:53:18 PM|| 2003-12-29 1:53:18 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 "Nope. Wudn't us."

Posted by Fred 2003-12-29 1:58:44 PM|| 2003-12-29 1:58:44 PM|| Front Page Top

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