WASHINGTON (AFP) — The White House on Wednesday called the New Year's day slaying of a US diplomat and his driver in Sudan "a tragic situation" and that the killer's motives were not yet known.
"Certainly it's a tragic situation," spokeswoman Dana Perino said when asked about the killing of US Agency for International Development official John Granville, 33, and his driver Abdel Rahman Abbas, 40.
"I don't have details in terms of the investigation that's ongoing as to the cause, or the motive," said Perino. "Obviously we extend our sympathies of the families of the individuals."
It was not clear if the shooting was a targeted attack against the official or a random crime, although Sudan's foreign ministry has called the attack "an isolated incident which has no political connotations."
The interior ministry said the diplomatic car had been caught in a fight which broke out as some Sudanese nationals were on the street celebrating the New Year.
The US embassy in Khartoum has said it is helping with the police enquiry.
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