March 25, 2007	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 5, 1428

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon’s inspector-general will blame nine US Army officers, including up to four generals, for missteps after the April 2004 death in Afghanistan by friendly fire of former NFL star Pat Tillman, the “CBS Evening News” reported on Friday.

It said the Pentagon would release its findings on Monday, showing the officers failed to follow regulations and used poor judgment in keeping the truth of the cause of Tillman’s death from his family for more than a month.

The Army first told Tillman’s family he was killed by enemy fire. Only after a nationally televised memorial service for the Army Ranger and former Arizona Cardinals football player were his wife and parents told he was in fact shot by fellow soldiers.

There was no information about what disciplinary action the nine officers might face. The inspector general’s report was the fifth inquiry into Tillman’s death, CBS said.—Reuters