USA: USA: JANET RENO 1993 WACO INCIDENT PRESS CONFERENCE (2) скачать в хорошем качестве

USA: USA: JANET RENO 1993 WACO INCIDENT PRESS CONFERENCE (2)

(3 Sep 1999) English/Nat The U-S Attorney General has said she'll appoint an independent investigator to probe what happened in the 1993 Waco siege, but has given no indications as to who that might be. Janet Reno also insists that the idea of an outside probe has not strained relations with F-B-I director Louis Freeh, despite some media reports to the contrary. Her comments came amid controversy about the F-B-I's use of potentially flammable tear gas canisters on the morning of the fatal fire at the Branch Davidian compound. At her weekly news conference, Attorney General Janet Reno admitted she was deeply concerned about the events of the past two weeks and stressed she planned to find the truth. Reno said she would appoint an outside investigator soon, but she did not reveal who that person might be. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Since last weekend I've been working to identify a qualified and respected individual outside the department to head a review of the events at Waco to ensure that the American public has faith in whatever that investigation reveals. I have been eager to identify the appropriate outside investigator and I hope to name that person shortly. I want to ensure that any individual has no conflicts, will be well received and has the time to handle the task in the appropriate manner." SUPER CAPTION: US Attorney General Janet Reno The 1993 assault on the complex near Waco, Texas, ended with cult leader David Koresh and some 80 followers dead - some by gunshot, others when the complex went up in flames. Federal officials have long insisted the fire was started by Koresh. But last week, after six years of denials, the F-B-I admitted its agents did use incendiary weapons on the final day of the standoff, but insisted those weapons did not start the fire. This F-B-I videotape, shot on the final day of the standoff but only made public on Friday, clearly shows members of the hostage rescue team asking for - and getting approval for - the use of potentially flammable tear gas canisters. Reno - in her first confirmation of the new information - on Friday acknowledged she had been misled about the weapons used that day. She had repeatedly stressed that any use of military-style tear gas was a violation of her orders. However, Reno did tell reporters that all the evidence she had seen supported the view that federal agents did not start the fire. Asked if she would resign, Reno said she would let the facts of the matter speak for themselves. SOUNDBITE: (English) "The facts that we know indicate that the F-B-I did not set that fire. The fire was set by David Koresh and the people in that building. It was a terrible tragedy which came on the heels of federal agents being killed, just murdered. We've got to put it in perspective, realising that as we do it is still vitally, critically, important that we pursue every aspect of the investigation to ensure that the truth will out. I don't make any judgements, I let the facts speak for themselves. And I am going to continue to pursue the truth and if the facts show that I've done something wrong then I will accept the consequences." SUPER CAPTION: US Attorney General Janet Reno The F-B-I has been accused of misleading Reno about the nature of the weapons used that last day. It had also been accused of withholding infrared videotaped evidence of the assault, videotape which Reno claims she didn't know about until Wednesday. These are issues, Reno said on Friday, that the independent investigator must look into. But, she insisted there were no strained relations between herself and F-B-I Director Louie Freeh. SOUNDBITE: (English) Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...