U.S. Fifth Fleet Expresses "Deepest Sympathies" To The Relatives Of Egypitan Killed In A Shooting Incident Near Suez Canal

Manama, Bahrain (AHN) - The U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet promised to conduct a thorough investigation on the shooting incident near Suez Canal that left an Egyptian dead.

Vice Admiral Kevin J. Cosgriff , commander of the Bahrain-based fleet, said that the U.S. govt. will work with the Cairo officials to ensure in gathering all the necessary information that will shed light on the incident and to find ways how the relatives of the victim could be properly "compensated".

"We will work through the investigation very thoroughly, coordinating with authorities and the (US) embassy (in Cairo), to get a full account of what happened," Cosgriff was quoted as saying by the Agence France-Presse.

The Fifth Fleet spokesman, Lt. Nathan Christensen also told AFP that the U.S. government will also provide financial support to the relatives of the victim, Mohammed Moqtar Afiti, who was shot dead by an American navy in patrol near the canal late last Monday.

"The relatives will receive money," Christensen said according to AFP. "I cant speculate on how long that will take.

Meanwhile, the commander of the fleet expressed "deepest sympathies to the family of the victim".

"We are greatly saddened by the events that apparently resulted in this accidental death. This situation is tragic, and we will do our utmost to help take care of the family of the deceased," Cosgriff was quoted as promising the victim's relatives, according to AFP.