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CNN Live Today

More Details on Incident Involving Friendly Fire Between U.S. and Canadian Forces

Aired April 18, 2002 - 10:10   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: They are just now getting word of some breaking news coming out of there in Washington, as well as some breaking news from the Pentagon. Let's check in now with our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Leon. Well, we are getting more details now about this incident involving the friendly fire between U.S. and Canadian forces in Afghanistan.

Now, as we have reported earlier this morning, the Canadians, late yesterday, were conducting a live-fire training exercise at night south of Kandahar. A U.S. F-16 flying overhead reported taking enemy ground fire. It asked for permission to strike the target. The plane was given permission -- the pilot was given permission to mark the target, to prepare to launch possibly his 500-pound laser-guided bomb. He flew over the target.

What we now know is the pilot then radioed for permission to drop his weapon. That permission was denied. At that point, the pilot reported that he was taking additional ground fire, and it was then that he invoked his right of self-defense and dropped his weapon, tragically hitting a Canadian military unit on the ground, killing four Canadian soldiers, injuring eight, several seriously.

In Kandahar earlier today, U.S. military officials expressed their condolences.

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COL. FRANK WIERINSKI, U.S. ARMY: As we grieve through this time, let us be sure of one thing and let us have no doubt, our commitment remains strong. We will not fail. And as our president said, President Bush: "And although our eyes are filled with tears, we will fight on. This fight was not of our choosing, but it will be finished on our terms." The cost of this fight has been great, but our commitment remains greater.

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STARR: And U.S. military officials are acknowledging this morning that the Canadians were operating in a trained, marked-off training area. The investigation is under way -- Leon.

HARRIS: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. That information actually raises even more questions than we had originally.

STARR: It does.

HARRIS: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon, thank you very much -- we'll check back with you later on for some answers to those questions.

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