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U.S. military denies reports helicopter opened fire on Libyan civilians
during rescue mission
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March 22, 2011
Original URL: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/U.S._military_denies_reports_helicopter_opened_fire_on_Libyan_civilians_during_rescue_mission



A spokesperson for the  has tonight categorically denied reports of a
U.S. helicopter opening fire on Libyan civilians during a rescue mission
of two fighter pilots who crashed near the eastern city of .

Conflicting reports have emerged of the mission to rescue the two U.S.
fighter pilots who ejected from their aircraft. The  that they were
flying reportedly suffered a mechanical failure on Monday night and
crashed. Soon after the accident, a U.S. military helicopter landed in
the area to extract the airmen and reportedly opened fire on civilians,
wounding six of them.

Unconfirmed reports indicate the six civilians were taken to a hospital
in the area after being fired upon by the helicopter, a . One of the
wounded, a young boy, was shot in the leg, which will likely now require
amputation. Another of those reported injured said the shooting caused
"great panic." ''Wikinews'' understands the  is to open an investigation
into the rescue mission.

However, a U.S. military spokesperson denied the reports "one hundred
percent", and said the incident "didn't happen". He said the aircraft
which rescued the two airman was not fitted with weapons. "The Osprey is
not armed and the Marines barely came off the aircraft," he said.

The pilot of the fighter aircraft was extracted during the rescue
mission, while the  was found and cared for by Libyan rebels before
later being retrieved by American forces. Both crew members suffered
only minor injuries, the military said. The fighter aircraft was
deployed over Libya in support of the no-fly zone approved by the  over
Libya as part of .

== Related articles ==
*

== Sources == 
* http://www.channel4.com/news/third-night-of-bombing-in-libya
* http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8390035/Libya-Live.html
* http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/22/libya-no-fly-zone-air-strikes-live-updates



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