U.S. recovers bodies believed to be missing soldiers
Tuesday, June 20, 2006 Posted: 1524 GMT (2324 HKT)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Coalition forces have recovered what they believe are the bodies of two missing soldiers, Maj. Gen. William Caldwell told reporters on Tuesday.
Pfc. Kristian Menchaca and Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker went missing after a Friday attack on a traffic control checkpoint in Yusufiya.
"We spotted what we believe to be them late last night, as it was dark," said Caldwell, who initially refused to confirm or deny whether the bodies were believed to be those of the soldiers -- or even whether two bodies had been found.
"Not knowing for sure, we went ahead and established a cordon around the area to protect it, so it would be undisturbed until daylight this morning."
At dawn, explosives teams and other assets were brought in for the recovery effort, he said. Insurgents previously have complicated recovery efforts by booby-trapping the areas around bodies.
"They did have to dismantle some stuff to get to them," Caldwell said.
Meanwhile, Menchaca's aunt told CNN the family had been notified of his death.
The bodies thought to be those of Menchaca, 23, of Houston, Texas, and Tucker, 25, of Madras, Oregon, were found in the Yusufiya area, Caldwell said, adding he believes the soldiers were mortally wounded, then moved.
It was unclear whether he meant the wounds were suffered in the initial attack on a checkpoint or afterward. "Where we found them was not based on their own movements," he said.
DNA tests will be carried out to verify whether the bodies belong to the soldiers. Caldwell said he had not heard whether a note was placed on the bodies.
A high-ranking official with the Iraqi defense ministry had earlier offered a conflicting account, telling CNN Tuesday that the soldiers' bodies were found on Saturday in Jurf al-Sakhar town about 80 km (50 miles) south of Baghdad.
Group claims killings
Meanwhile, a claim posted on a Web site Tuesday said the soldiers were "slaughtered" in accordance with God's will.
"We announce the good news to our Islamic nation that we executed God's will and slaughtered the two crusader animals we had in captivity," says the claim, reportedly from the Mujahedeen Shura Council, a group linked to al Qaeda. "And God has given our Emir, Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, the good fortune of carrying out the legitimate court's command in person."
CNN cannot independently verify the claim, but it was posted on a Web site which frequently has carried such messages from insurgent groups.
Asked whether he gives credibility to a Monday claim by the same group that it had abducted the soldiers, Caldwell responded, "Absolutely not."
Earlier, military spokesman Maj. William Wilhoite told CNN he did not know whether the bodies showed signs of torture. "I haven't heard anything through our official channels," he said.
The U.S. military said Spc. David J. Babineau, 25, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was killed in the Friday attack, after which Menchaca and Tucker went missing.
(snip)
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/06/20/soldiers.missing/index.html
Tuesday, June 20, 2006 Posted: 1524 GMT (2324 HKT)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Coalition forces have recovered what they believe are the bodies of two missing soldiers, Maj. Gen. William Caldwell told reporters on Tuesday.
Pfc. Kristian Menchaca and Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker went missing after a Friday attack on a traffic control checkpoint in Yusufiya.
"We spotted what we believe to be them late last night, as it was dark," said Caldwell, who initially refused to confirm or deny whether the bodies were believed to be those of the soldiers -- or even whether two bodies had been found.
"Not knowing for sure, we went ahead and established a cordon around the area to protect it, so it would be undisturbed until daylight this morning."
At dawn, explosives teams and other assets were brought in for the recovery effort, he said. Insurgents previously have complicated recovery efforts by booby-trapping the areas around bodies.
"They did have to dismantle some stuff to get to them," Caldwell said.
Meanwhile, Menchaca's aunt told CNN the family had been notified of his death.
The bodies thought to be those of Menchaca, 23, of Houston, Texas, and Tucker, 25, of Madras, Oregon, were found in the Yusufiya area, Caldwell said, adding he believes the soldiers were mortally wounded, then moved.
It was unclear whether he meant the wounds were suffered in the initial attack on a checkpoint or afterward. "Where we found them was not based on their own movements," he said.
DNA tests will be carried out to verify whether the bodies belong to the soldiers. Caldwell said he had not heard whether a note was placed on the bodies.
A high-ranking official with the Iraqi defense ministry had earlier offered a conflicting account, telling CNN Tuesday that the soldiers' bodies were found on Saturday in Jurf al-Sakhar town about 80 km (50 miles) south of Baghdad.
Group claims killings
Meanwhile, a claim posted on a Web site Tuesday said the soldiers were "slaughtered" in accordance with God's will.
"We announce the good news to our Islamic nation that we executed God's will and slaughtered the two crusader animals we had in captivity," says the claim, reportedly from the Mujahedeen Shura Council, a group linked to al Qaeda. "And God has given our Emir, Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, the good fortune of carrying out the legitimate court's command in person."
CNN cannot independently verify the claim, but it was posted on a Web site which frequently has carried such messages from insurgent groups.
Asked whether he gives credibility to a Monday claim by the same group that it had abducted the soldiers, Caldwell responded, "Absolutely not."
Earlier, military spokesman Maj. William Wilhoite told CNN he did not know whether the bodies showed signs of torture. "I haven't heard anything through our official channels," he said.
The U.S. military said Spc. David J. Babineau, 25, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was killed in the Friday attack, after which Menchaca and Tucker went missing.
(snip)
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/06/20/soldiers.missing/index.html
ucking:
