Petraeus launches investigation into death of British hostage

AFP - US General David Petraeus on Monday ordered an investigation into the death of a British hostage, saying it was not possible to determine conclusively the cause of her death following an attempted rescue.

British aid worker Linda Norgrove, 36, died during a failed US rescue operation late Friday, nearly two weeks after she was abducted with three Afghan colleagues on September 26 in eastern Afghanistan bordering Pakistan.

Petraeus, the top US commander in Afghanistan, ordered the investigation "immediately following additional information developed by the military commander in charge of the rescue operation," according to the US military in Kabul.

The British government initially said Norgrove was killed by her captors, but Prime Minister David Cameron said Monday that she may have died after a grenade was detonated by her rescuers and not at the hands of her kidnappers.

"Subsequent review of surveillance footage and discussions with members of the rescue team do not conclusively determine the cause of her death," the US military statement said.

"General Petraeus contacted US Central Command... so they will initiate the investigation," US Forces Afghanistan spokesman Lieutenant Colonel John Dorrian spokesman told AFP.

"It's in US channels and they will invite members of the UK military to participate in that investigation," he said.