Body of slain South African hostage heading home

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By LYNSEY CHUTEL

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Pierre Korkie was supposed to be released Sunday from 18 months of captivity in Yemen under a deal struck by an aid group.

Instead, his widow is mourning her "dearest friend and companion ... torn from me and the children" when he was killed Saturday along with American photojournalist Luke Somers during a U.S.-led rescue attempt. Ten al-Qaida miltants also were slain in the raid, Yemeni security officials said.

About 40 U.S. special operations forces were involved in the half-hour rescue attempt in Shabwa province, which followed U.S. drone strikes in the area east of the capital of Sanaa, U.S. officials said. After a firefight with militants, the rescuers eventually reached the men and found them alive but gravely wounded. They both died shortly after as medics tried to save them.

Korkie's body is being flown back to South Africa and is scheduled to arrive Monday, the government said. Yolande Korkie said in a statement that will help her and the couple's two children, Peter and Lize, reach "some sort of closure."

FULL story at link.



This is an undated photo provided by the Korkie family, of South African Pierre Korkie. An American photojournalist and a South African teacher held by al-Qaida militants in Yemen were killed Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, during a U.S.-led rescue operation that President Barack Obama said he ordered because of "imminent danger" to the U.S. hostage. South African Pierre Korkie is believed to have died during the flight, while American Luke Somers died on the ship, according to senior U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information had yet to be approved for release. (AP Photo/Korkie Family)

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141207/yemen-27bdbe439c.html

[cosmicone]

1. But of course .. Islam is not to blame

just as guns don't kill people, people kill people.