U.S. military: U.S. serviceman in Kyrgyzstan fatally shoots civilian

[Judi Lynn]

Dec. 6, 2006, 9:44AM
U.S. military: U.S. serviceman in Kyrgyzstan fatally shoots civilian
Associated Press

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — A U.S. serviceman fatally shot a civilian at the U.S. air base in Kyrgyzstan on today "in response to a threat," the U.S. military said.
(snip)

The civilian was treated by Air Force medics and died at the base's emergency room, the statement said.
(snip)

Co-workers identified the slain man as Alexander Ivanov, a 46-year-old Russian who worked for a company called Aerocraft Petrol Management. Co-worker Sergei Pavlov said Ivanov had worked for four years for the company, which provides fuel services for Kyrgyz and international civilian aircraft, but not U.S. military aircraft.

Pavlov said the incident happened at a checkpoint at the airport that is controlled by U.S. military personnel. He said drivers traveling from a fuel depot to fill up aircraft must stop at the checkpoint and exit the truck while guards search the vehicle.

Pavlov, who did not witness the shooting, said Ivanov was apparently shot after he getting out of his truck.

The United States uses the base mostly to support U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4382957.html

[htuttle]

1. Ohhhh....whoops

Hey, that's not Iraq -- you can't just go around shooting anyone you want in Kyrgyzstan. And a Russian, to boot. Why would they shoot him as he was getting out of his truck? "In response to a threat" might just mean the guard was so far gone with PTSD he thought the guy was dangerous or something.

I think this will probably make some waves....