ASIA: Australian soldier shot in East Timor

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2000
ASIA: Australian soldier shot in East Timor

An Australian soldier has been accidentally shot in East Timor and is tonight recovering
in a Dili military hospital.

A Defence Department statement says Private S. HAGAN, from Brisbane, was accidentally
injured while a group of soldiers were cleaning their weapons.

The 1st Battalion soldier from the Royal Australian Regiment Group is serving with
the UN Peacekeeping Force in East Timor.

The shooting occurred in Batugade yesterday afternoon at 2:53pm local time.

The statement says the soldier was immediately airlifted by Blackhawk helicopter to
the United Nations Military Hospital in Dili.

He is reportedly in a stable condition.

The United Nations and the Australian National Contingent are conducting investigations
into the accident.

AAP RTV alt/ao

KEYWORD: TIMOR SOLDIER (SYDNEY)

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