Bush vows to help parents of missing US soldier in Iraq
CINCINNATI, Ohio (AFP) - President George W. Bush vowed to do all he could for the parents of a missing American soldier in Iraq (news - web sites) who was the first US soldier taken hostage during the Iraq war.
"Carolyn and Keith Maupin are with us today, they're from this part of the world. Their son Matt has been missing in action for four months in Iraq," Bush said as he addressed a Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention in Cincinnati.
"I have vowed to them we will do everything we can to find their loved one, Matt. I appreciate their courage. I continue to send my prayers to these two fine Americans during these difficult times for them," Bush said.
US Army Specialist Keith Maupin, 20, disappeared after his convoy was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire near Baghdad airport on April 9.
Al-Jazeera television showed footage in April of the young Ohio soldier in his military fatigues sitting against a white wall and circled by a half-dozen masked and armed men.
The Qatar-based satellite channel aired subsequent footage on June 28 in which insurgents claimed they had executed Maupin. However, his death has not been confirmed by Washington.
Al-Jazeera said it had received video footage purportedly showing Maupin speaking, followed by a man being shot dead as he knelt with his back to the camera.
© 2004 Agence France Presse