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'Taliban or US forces could have killed aid worker' 'No time limit' on inquiry over hostage Linda Norgrove
(about 3 hours later)
US investigators say kidnapped British aid worker Linda Norgrove could have been killed by a Taliban weapon or a US one, or a combination of both. The US/UK investigation into the failed rescue of British hostage Linda Norgrove should have no time limit on it, William Hague has told the BBC.
They are keeping an open mind as to how she died in the failed rescue attempt. The foreign secretary said the top priority was to find out what happened.
Downing Street has announced that Brigadier Rob Nitsch will be the senior British representative on the joint US/UK investigation panel. Mr Hague will discuss the inquiry with top US commander in Afghanistan, Gen David Petraeus, in London this week.
US President Barack Obama has offered his deepest condolences over the death in a call to David Cameron. Ms Norgrove's death was at first blamed on her captors but it was then said a US grenade might have killed her. The US now says it is keeping an open mind.
Investigators in the US said the British aid worker could have been killed by a Taliban weapon or a US one, or a combination of both.
Meanwhile Downing Street has announced that Brigadier Rob Nitsch will be the senior British representative on the joint US/UK investigation panel.
US President Barack Obama has offered his deepest condolences over the death in a call to Prime Minister David Cameron.
In a BBC interview Mr Hague also acknowledged it had been embarrassing to have to admit he had released wrong information about how Ms Norgrove died, but insisted it was still right to pass it on to the public.
"I think when we are told something in good faith we must tell the country that information in good faith. Of course it can turn out subsequently to be wrong but that's better than hiding any information.
"We have always erred on the side of transparency in the current government and this is one indication of that," he said.
'Examination of detail''Examination of detail'
The top US commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, ordered the investigation on Monday after a review of the operation launched to try to free Mrs Norgrove ended in her death. Gen Petraeus ordered the investigation on Monday after a review of the operation launched to try to free Mrs Norgrove ended in her death on Friday.
His team said they would wait for the investigation to reach a conclusion before making any major statements.His team said they would wait for the investigation to reach a conclusion before making any major statements.
Brigadier Nitsch, the Head of Joint Force Support, UK Forces Afghanistan, will serve alongside the senior US investigating officer Major General Votel on the investigation panel.Brigadier Nitsch, the Head of Joint Force Support, UK Forces Afghanistan, will serve alongside the senior US investigating officer Major General Votel on the investigation panel.
Peter Ricketts, the prime minister's national security adviser, will also discuss the operation with the Head of US Central Command in Afghanistan, General Mattis, when the general is in London on Wednesday.Peter Ricketts, the prime minister's national security adviser, will also discuss the operation with the Head of US Central Command in Afghanistan, General Mattis, when the general is in London on Wednesday.
Foreign Secretary William Hague told the BBC that there was no time limit on the probe. Mr Hague said the length of the inquiry was "really up to the investigators".
He said: "That really is up to the investigators. Clearly, they have to scrutinise very carefully what happened in this case.
"They will have to interview the people involved, they will have to look at the video footage of what happened, so there is quite a bit of examination of detail to go on here."They will have to interview the people involved, they will have to look at the video footage of what happened, so there is quite a bit of examination of detail to go on here.
"I don't think it's for me to set a time limit to that. We're interested not so much in the timing, as in really finding out what happened and why.""I don't think it's for me to set a time limit to that. We're interested not so much in the timing, as in really finding out what happened and why."
Conflicting evidenceConflicting evidence
Mr Hague said he had "given the green light" to a military operation to rescue Ms Norgrove within hours of her kidnap. It was now important, he added, for the investigation to run its course. Mr Hague said he had "given the green light" to a military operation to rescue Ms Norgrove within hours of her kidnap.
Earlier President Obama spoke to the prime minister, offering his deepest condolences for Ms Norgrove's death. When President Obama spoke to the UK prime minister, he said Ms Norgrove's work represented her extraordinary commitment to advance the lives of others.
Mr Obama said her work represented her extraordinary commitment to advance the lives of others.
Mr Obama and Mr Cameron agreed the rescue mission was necessary because her life was in grave danger.Mr Obama and Mr Cameron agreed the rescue mission was necessary because her life was in grave danger.
Nato sources in Afghanistan initially claimed that she had died when one of her captors set off a suicide bomb, but it then emerged she may have been killed by an American grenade. Nato sources in Afghanistan initially claimed that she had died when one of her captors set off a suicide bomb but it then emerged she might have been killed by an American grenade.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "[Mr Cameron and President Obama] agreed that the decision to launch the rescue operation had been right, given the grave danger to Linda's life, and that US forces had shown great courage.
"They looked forward to close co-operation between the UK and US authorities on the investigation and agreed to stay in close touch as it moved forward."
US military sources said surveillance of the operation from overhead and on the ground was conflicting.US military sources said surveillance of the operation from overhead and on the ground was conflicting.
Rescue agreed
The investigators will look at surveillance footage of the operation taken by helicopters or pilotless drone aircraft as well as from cameras mounted on the helmets of the soldiers on the ground.The investigators will look at surveillance footage of the operation taken by helicopters or pilotless drone aircraft as well as from cameras mounted on the helmets of the soldiers on the ground.
At a Downing Street news conference on Monday, Mr Cameron said 12 meetings of the government emergencies committee, Cobra, had taken place before Foreign Secretary William Hague and the US agreed the rescue attempt should go ahead.At a Downing Street news conference on Monday, Mr Cameron said 12 meetings of the government emergencies committee, Cobra, had taken place before Foreign Secretary William Hague and the US agreed the rescue attempt should go ahead.
The decision was then approved by the prime minister.The decision was then approved by the prime minister.
Ms Norgrove, 36, from the Isle of Lewis, was employed by US aid group DAI. She was seized in the Dewagal valley in Kunar province on 26 September.Ms Norgrove, 36, from the Isle of Lewis, was employed by US aid group DAI. She was seized in the Dewagal valley in Kunar province on 26 September.
Three local staff, who were kidnapped with her when the two cars they were travelling in were ambushed, were released unharmed last week.Three local staff, who were kidnapped with her when the two cars they were travelling in were ambushed, were released unharmed last week.
DAI vice-president Betsy Marcotte told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she did not blame US troops for her colleague's death.DAI vice-president Betsy Marcotte told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she did not blame US troops for her colleague's death.
"Clearly it is distressing news, but it doesn't change anything for me," she said."Clearly it is distressing news, but it doesn't change anything for me," she said.
"I feel confident in how this was handled and that we have been satisfied that the British and the Americans were doing everything they could.""I feel confident in how this was handled and that we have been satisfied that the British and the Americans were doing everything they could."