US Central Command (CENTCOM) has completed its investigation of the incident at the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad on 8 April 2003 in which Ukrainian Reuters cameraman Taras Protsyuk and Spanish Telecinco cameraman Jose Couso died. 

The investigation concluded that a tank crew "properly fired upon a suspected enemy hunter/killer team in a proportionate and justifiably measured response. The action was fully in accordance with the Rules of Engagement."

"The journalists' deaths at the Palestine Hotel was a tragedy and the United States has the deepest sympathies for the families of those who were killed," CENTCOM added.

The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists described the Pentagon report as a "cynical whitewash" of the affair.

For its part, Reporters Without Borders today described the report as "unacceptable".

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