13 May 2004

by Anai Rhoads

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AnaiRhoads.org - The grieving family of Nick Berg, the civilian beheaded in Iraq over the weekend, are calling on the United States to "come clean" about the Berg's whereabouts before his capture by Islamic militants.

Friends and family have repeatedly told the press that Berg was held in the custody of the U.S. military for 13 days and even questioned by the FBI three times, but the U.S. government denies this ever took place.

Berg had told others in Mosul that he believed the reason he was initially taken by the Iraqi police on 24 March was because he was Jewish and carried a passport that displayed the Israeli stamp.

However, Mosul police chief Maj. Gen. Mohammed Khair al-Barhawi claims otherwise. When questioned by reporters, al-Barhawi replied, "The Iraqi police never arrested the slain American."

An official in Baghdad, U.S. spokesman Dan Senor said that Berg was not with the military or ever in U.S. custody.

Since the war-torn country is under U.S. occupation and which oversees the Iraqi police, Berg's family believes that it is unlikely that the Iraqi police would have held Berg without explicit permission by U.S. authorities.

The family released e-mail from a U.S. diplomat in Iraq that proved both the Iraqi police and the U.S. government wrong Thursday.

Text of e-mails from Beth A. Payne, a U.S. consular officer in Baghdad, to members of the family of Nicholas Berg:

31 March - 3:16 p.m.

"I've been trying to return your wife's call, but the line is busy. I attempted to locate your son without success. If I can locate him, I will ask him to call so you know his situation."

01 April - 1:26 a.m. (To Berg's father)

"I have confirmed that your son, Nick, is being detained by the U.S. military in Mosul. He is safe. He was picked up approximately one week ago. We will try to obtain additional information regarding his detention and a contact person you can communicate with directly."

01 April - 5:23 a.m. (To Berg's mother)

"I have been able to confirm that your son is being detained by the U.S. military. I am attempting to identify a person with the U.S. military or FBI here in Iraq who you can contact directly with your questions."

02 April - 1:25 p.m.

"I have been trying to identify a local contact here, but given the security situation in Iraq it is not easy. I will continue to try."

The family seeks answers as to why the U.S. government denied Berg's capture.

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