BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The U.S. military on Saturday formally
apologized to an Iraqi village after a soldier admitted using the
Quran -- Islam's holy book -- for target practice.
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Hammond apologizes after a soldier admitted using
the Quran for target practice.
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Hammond, commander of U.S. forces in Baghdad,
apologized to the Radhwaniya tribe for the staff sergeant, who was a
sniper section leader assigned to the headquarters of the 64th Armored
Regiment. He also read a letter of apology by the shooter.
"I come before you here seeking your forgiveness," Hammand said to
tribal leaders and others at the apology ceremony. "In the most humble
manner I look in your eyes today and I say please forgive me and my
soldiers."
Another military official kissed a Quran and presented it as "a humble
gift" to the tribal leaders.
The shooter, whose name was not released, shot at a Quran on May 9,
villagers said. The Quran used in the incident was discovered two days
later, according to the military.
A tribal leader said "the criminal act by U.S. forces" took place at a
shooting range at the Radhwaniya police station. After the shooters
left, an Iraqi policeman found a target marked in the middle of the
bullet-riddled Quran.
Copies of the pictures of the Quran obtained by CNN show multiple
bullet holes and an expletive scrawled on one of its pages.
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