SLOVAK soldiers shot an Iraqi civilian dead in an incident on June 23.The Slovak unit was moving in a convoy when a car tried to overtake, a manoeuvre, which is banned according to local regulations, the SME daily reported.
Initially, according to the daily, the soldiers fired warning shots in the air. The driver failed to stop and the soldiers shot at the ground in front of the car. A bullet ricocheted from the ground and hit the Iraqi driver.
The Slovak soldiers gave the man first aid but he died while being taken to hospital. The incident is being investigated.
"It seems the Slovak unit was fulfilling its mandate and the soldiers stuck to all the rules," Slovak Defence Ministry spokesman Zenon Mikle commented.
