WASHINGTON, May 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack
Obama said on Monday that he was "shocked and deeply saddened" by a shooting
incident in a U.S. military camp in Iraq.
"I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news
from Camp Victory this morning, and my heart goes out to the families and
friends of all the service members involved in this horrible tragedy," said
Obama in a statement.
The Pentagon confirmed earlier the day that five U.S.
soldiers were killed in a shooting incident at the U.S. base near Baghdad
International airport.
Without providing further details, the military said
that the case "is under investigation and more information will be released when
it becomes available."
Obama assured that the government is "doing
everything" it can to ensure "our men and women in uniform are protected as they
serve our country so capably and courageously in harm's way."
He also said that he has met with Defense Secretary
Robert Gates to get a briefing on the situation.
At the Pentagon, Gates called the incident shocking,
saying "we're still in the process of gathering information on exactly what
happened."
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, said "the tragedy occurred in a place where individuals were seeking
help."
He also said that the incident underscores the need
to allow the U.S. troops to spend more time at home between combat deployments.
The latest deaths bring the number of U.S. soldiers
killed in Iraq to about 4,292 since the Iraq war broke out in March
2003.
BAGHDAD, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Five U.S. soldiers were killed
in a shooting incident at a U.S. base in Baghdad on Monday, the U.S. military
said.
The soldiers were killed at about 2 p.m. (1100 GMT) at
"Camp Liberty" a U.S. military facility near Baghdad International airport, a
military statement said. Full story
