Bujumbura, Burundi, Mar 2, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Burundian rebels assassinated Archbishop Michael Courtney Dec. 29 since his car was flying the Vatican flag, states a recent draft report by a commission that was appointed by the government to investigate the Vatican envoy’s death.
The Associated Press saw the draft report, which has not yet been released officially, and filed the story March 2.
The archbishop was killed in the central African country when his car, flying the papal flag, was ambushed at a checkpoint south of Bujumbura, the capital.
The draft report states: “Courtney was deliberately assassinated by (rebel) combatants since his car was flying the Vatican flag.”