US military forced to apologise after soldier in Iraq used the Koran for target practice

Last updated at 01:38 19 May 2008

The U.S. military has been forced to apologise after one of its soldiers in Iraq used a copy of the Koran for target practice.

The Muslim holy book was found peppered with 14 bullet holes and with offensive scrawls inside at a shooting range near Baghdad.

The military yesterday confirmed that a soldier had been disciplined and withdrawn from Iraq following the incident.

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'Deeply troubling': US military spokesman Colonel Bill Buckner said coalition commanders have expressed their regret to local Iraqi leaders

Colonel Bill Buckner, a U.S. military spokesman, said a swift investigation had been ordered after Iraqi police found the Koran at the firing range on May 11.

Describing the incident as "serious and deeply troubling", he said in a statement: "Coalition commanders have briefed local leaders on the results of the investigation and expressed their deep regret."

Stressing that the U.S. respected Islam and the Koran, he added: "They have also undertaken disciplinary action against the soldier who was involved and he has been removed from Iraq."

Commanders were met by hundreds of protesting Sunni tribesmen when they went to deliver an apology to local leaders.

Major General Jeffery Hammond, the commander of U.S. troops in Baghdad, told the crowd: "I am a man of honour, I am a man of character. You have my word this will never happen again.

"In the most humble manner, I look into your eyes today and I say, please forgive me and my soldiers."

Another officer, brigade commander Colonel Ted Martin, gave a new copy of the Koran to tribal elders, kissing it and touching it to his forehead as he told them: "I hope that you will accept this humble gift."

Saeed al-Zubaie, head of one U.S.-allied Sunni tribal council, said some of his colleagues had threatened to quit unless the military took action.

But he said that the show of contrition appeared to have eased tensions in the area.

"I was feeling bitterness but as long as they apologised we are OK with them," he added. "Our anger has cooled."