Fed: Howard urges patience for Kovco inqiury

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2006
Fed: Howard urges patience for Kovco inqiury

CANBERRA, April 28 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard today urged patience and an end
to speculation as the defence department begins investigations into how Private Jake Kovco
was fatally shot and how his body was mistakenly left behind in Kuwait.

Mr Howard said it was expected his body would arrive back in Australia some time between
midnight and 1am (AEST) tomorrow.

He said he did not know just how that happened but it was pain upon grief for his widow,
Shelley Kovco.

"We will find out what happened, just as there will be a full inquiry into the circumstances
of Pte Kovco's death. I don't know the circumstances and it would be in everybody's interests
for there to be no further comment on what might have happened until the inquiry brings
down its findings," he told Southern Cross Radio.

Mr Howard earlier told ABC radio he accepted full responsibility for the circumstances
which led to the death of Pte Kovco in Iraq last week.

He said because the 25-year-old father of two died on active service, the government
had to accept responsibility.

"I, in particular, accept full responsibility," Mr Howard said.

"It was our decision to commit military forces to Iraq and I am very conscious of that."

Mr Howard said he understood the anguish of Pte Kovco's mother Judy.

"Until there is a proper inquiry, the problem about preliminary versions of what happened
being provided in good faith is that if they turn out to be wrong, that only further compounds
the grief," he said.

"It's a catch-22. If you keep providing in a serial fashion all the information that
comes to hand, inevitably there will be different versions."

Mr Howard said he also understood the limitiations of the inquiry process which could
take weeks or months to conclude.

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KEYWORD: KOVCO HOWARD LEAD

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