Fed: PM expresses sorrow over body bungle=3

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2006
Fed: PM expresses sorrow over body bungle=3

Mr Howard expressed sorrow to the entire Kovco family.

"I felt sorry for her late husband's parents who are also going through this terrible
upset," Mr Howard said.

"To have this additional, painful unexpected aggravation is really more than you can
expect anyone to bear, and I fully understood how she felt.

"She said she was very angry about it and she said she wanted everything done to try
and get her husband's body home as soon as possible.

"I understand that. I think people in a situation like that have a perfect right to
feel angry and upset, it's just one of those incredibly unfortunate things."

Mr Howard said it was almost impossible to believe that the wrong body had been shipped
back to Australia.

"It's one of those things that you never dream could happen. You think it's tragic
enough that the poor man's life has been lost, and then on top of that you have this.

"It's happened, and now we're doing our level best to get the family back as quickly
as possible."

Mr Howard said no blame could be laid at the feet of the army for the mix-up.

"Criticism oughtn't to be sheeted home to any of Private Kovco's army mates, and it
does appear there was a mistake made when the body was in the civilian mortuary in Kuwait,"

he said.

Mr Howard said he felt very sad for Private Kovco's wife, his extended family, and
his army friends.

"I feel very deeply for Private Kovco's army friends as they would be feeling a double
anguish," he said.

Mr Howard repeated his sorrow for Mrs Kovco.

"I just want to say how incredibly sorry I am for what has happened, and I wished in
some way I could have altered it but I can't," he said.

"I want Mrs Kovco to know that on behalf of the government we are desperately sorry
for what's occurred."

The government said at this stage it appeared the body that was brought back to Australia
instead of Private Kovco's was that of a soldier from an Eastern European nation.

AAP sw/so/sp

KEYWORD: KOVCO HOWARD 3 CANBERRA

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