PAKISTANI police claimed yesterday to have forensic proof a US official shot two motorcyclists in "cold-blooded murder", not self-defence. The incident has created an escalating standoff between Washington and Islamabad Raymond Davis, 36, was remanded in custody for another 14 days by the Lahore High Court yesterday while a higher court decides whether he is a US diplomat entitled to immunity from prosecution, as Washington insists. Mr Davis, 36, has reportedly told police he shot the two armed motorcyclists in self-defence, believing they were planning to rob or kidnap him, after they approached his car at an intersection in Lahore on January 27. But Lahore police chief Aslam Tareen rejected the self-defence claims at an extraordinary press conference yesterday. "The police investigation and forensic report show it was not self-defence," Mr Tareen said. "He gave no chance to them to survive. It was cold-blooded murder. Eyewitnesses have told police he directly shot at them, and he kept shooting even when one was running away." No fingerprints were on the triggers of the pistols found on the men's bodies, he said, and tests showed the bullets remained in the magazine of their guns, and not the chamber. The US embassy and State Department have accused Pakistan of breaching conventions by remanding in custody an official with diplomatic status. The embassy has demanded Mr Davis's release and refused to hand over to Pakistani authorities a second American, who rushed to help his colleague and in the process ran over and killed a third Pakistani. Mr Tareen said he had sent the US consulate in Lahore five letters demanding access to the consular vehicle believed to be involved in the hit-and-run. Washington has warned that the standoff risks derailing the nations' bilateral relationship and could force the cancellation of a crucial summit between Pakistani, US and Afghan leaders scheduled for later this month. US congressional officials have threatened to block instalments of Washington's promised $US7.5 billion ($7.45bn) assistance package to Pakistan if Mr Davis is not released. But Pakistani officials questioned the claim of diplomatic status, citing confused statements from the Lahore consulate, and reports that Mr Davis is a private security contractor to the consulate with limited immunity. The issue has fanned the strong anti-US sentiment across Pakistan at a sensitive time for the government, which is besieged by economic and security problems. The suicide on Sunday of the widow of one of the men shot by Mr Davis has fuelled the public anger and the government is under intense pressure not to bow to US demands. Mr Davis appeared briefly in court yesterday accompanied by a US-appointed lawyer who submitted applications demanding immunity from prosecution and for all further court proceedings to be held in camera.
Amanda Hodge
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