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US promises transparent probe
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THE United States on Monday promised to carry out a "transparent and complete" investigation of the sinking of a Japanese trawler off Hawaii by an US attack nuclear submarine.
"We are absolutely committed to a transparent and complete investigation of what happened. It is a very, very sad incident. We are very apologetic about it," Condoleezza Rice, President George W Bush's national security adviser, said in an interview with NBC's "Today" show.
Asked why the US submarine with sophisticated technologies overlooked the Japanese ship directly above it, Rice said there was no evidence so far that the commander of the US submarine had not followed correct procedures.
"But it's an issue that has to be examined in-depth," she said.
As to the Japanese side's complaints that the crew members of the US submarine had not acted quickly to help people on the trawler, Rice said the US side would look at whether or not there was proper aid given, adding that she could not comment further and would wait to see what came out of the inquiry.
As the search went on for nine people unaccounted for after the sinking of the 499-tonne Ehime Maru off Hawaii on Friday, Bush made his first public comments on the disaster during a visit to Fort Stewart military base, Georgia.
"I would ask for your prayers for those still missing after the tragic accident involving one of our naval submarines and a Japanese fishing vessel off the coast of Hawaii," Bush told US servicemen and women.
"Please join me in a moment of silence for those missing, their families and our friends, the people of Japan," he said.
(SD-Agencies)
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