AR-News: (Norway) Video of dog being shot causes Norway stir

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Video of Dog Being Shot Causes Norway Stir

By DOUG MELLGREN
.c The Associated Press 

OSLO, Norway (AP) - A videotape set to music of Norwegian peacekeepers in 
Kosovo shooting dogs drew furious reactions in their homeland Friday.

The footage, called ``Hotdog,'' aired on national TV on Thursday night and 
was edited to look and sound like a music video.

During the video, a soldier is shown shooting a dog at long range with a 
rifle, and another Norwegian peacekeeper appeared to empty his pistol into it at 
close range as the animal writhed in agony. It also shows a dog on a leash 
being shot.

``We see this as very serious and want to get to the bottom of it,'' said 
Cmdr. Thom Knustad, spokesman for the Norwegian military's operational command.

Norway has been a major contributor to many international peacekeeping 
operations, and prefers to see its soldiers as humane and effective.

Outrage over the video has been so intense that the leader of the 
Parliament's defense committee, Marit Nybakk, said she would demand an explanation from 
Defense Minister Kristin Krohn Devold.

The video was circulated among Norwegian Kosovo veterans and others by 
e-mail, and was posted on the Internet by Norway's largest newspaper, Verdens Gang. 
The video was e-mailed to Norwegian media outlets, including Verdens Gang.

The newspaper said the video was believed to have been recorded in March 2002 
by peacekeepers from the elite Telemark Battalion, which has since returned 
to Norway. Verdens Gang said it had identified and spoken to some of those 
shown in the video, but did not report their names.

One of them told the Oslo tabloid that scenes from various events had been 
pieced together to give a misleading picture. For example, laughter on the 
soundtrack was from soldiers trying off-road vehicles, he said.

Verdens Gang also said soldiers were believed to have wounded an elderly 
Kosovo Albanian man in the hand while shooting at dogs and then paid him to remain 
silent. The military was expected to establish a commission to investigate 
whether those involved could face military or civilian charges.

Norway has been part of the international peacekeeping force in Kosovo since 
1999.


 
02/20/04 11:55 EST
    

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