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UN Lebanon deaths 'tragic error' UN Lebanon deaths 'tragic error'
(3 days later)
An Israeli bombing raid on a UN post in southern Lebanon in July that killed four peacekeepers was the result of a "tragic error", Israel has said.An Israeli bombing raid on a UN post in southern Lebanon in July that killed four peacekeepers was the result of a "tragic error", Israel has said.
An official Israeli inquiry found the post was wrongly targeted because of flawed military maps of the area during the conflict with Hezbollah.An official Israeli inquiry found the post was wrongly targeted because of flawed military maps of the area during the conflict with Hezbollah.
Observers from China, Austria, Finland and Canada were killed in the raid.Observers from China, Austria, Finland and Canada were killed in the raid.
The UN said that, prior to the bombing, it had contacted Israel several times to ask it to stop firing in the area.The UN said that, prior to the bombing, it had contacted Israel several times to ask it to stop firing in the area.
The UN post, in the town of Khiam, is thought to have been hit by precision-guided munitions in the attack on 26 July. The UN post, in the town of al-Khiyam, is thought to have been hit by precision-guided munitions in the attack on 26 July.
At the time, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan described the raid as "apparently deliberate".At the time, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan described the raid as "apparently deliberate".
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed "deep regrets" over the deaths.Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed "deep regrets" over the deaths.
Delicate relationshipDelicate relationship
The Israeli investigation found that there had been a mistake in the duplication of maps during the deployment of fresh troops to the area, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said.The Israeli investigation found that there had been a mistake in the duplication of maps during the deployment of fresh troops to the area, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said.
"In that process, unfortunately, the UN post was not accurately mapped," he said. "When our aircraft launched its ordnance it believed it was targeting Hezbollah.""In that process, unfortunately, the UN post was not accurately mapped," he said. "When our aircraft launched its ordnance it believed it was targeting Hezbollah."
He described the incident to the BBC as "a tragic error, a mistake".He described the incident to the BBC as "a tragic error, a mistake".
Israel's findings have been sent to each of the four countries from where the killed peacekeepers came, Mr Regev said.Israel's findings have been sent to each of the four countries from where the killed peacekeepers came, Mr Regev said.
The UN is preparing its own report into the attack.The UN is preparing its own report into the attack.
The UN and Israel are currently engaged in sensitive negotiations over the transition to peace in southern Lebanon as well as attempts to forge a new relationship between Israel and the Palestinians.The UN and Israel are currently engaged in sensitive negotiations over the transition to peace in southern Lebanon as well as attempts to forge a new relationship between Israel and the Palestinians.
Conflicting reports, with different interpretations of the attack, could cause friction in that delicate relationship, the BBC's Jill McGivering in Jerusalem says.Conflicting reports, with different interpretations of the attack, could cause friction in that delicate relationship, the BBC's Jill McGivering in Jerusalem says.