South Korean army officer shot by fellow officer

Seoul: A South Korean army major on peacekeeping duties in Afghanistan accidentally shot dead a junior officer in an row over his telephone manner on Tuesday 28th January 2003, the Defense Ministry said.

Major Lee Kyu-sang, 37, fired at Captain Kim Hyo-sung, 33, in their barracks near Bagram Air Base north of the capital, Kabul, when the captain refused an order to speak quietly on the telephone while Lee was discussing the leasing of construction equipment with some Afghans, the spokesman said.

"It looks as if the major didn't know his gun was loaded and shot the captain by mistake," he said.

The major was immediately arrested, escorted home and referred to a court martial, he said. "We've sent an investigator to carry out further inquiries," the spokesman said.