Wrong body returned to Australia from Iraq

Defence Department officials in Australia have revealed a body which has arrived in Melbourne, is not that of the first Australian troop killed in Iraq.

The family of Private Jake Kovco had gathered at Melbourne Airport to claim the soldier's body, only to find out the wrong one had been sent from Baghdad.

It is not yet known how the error happened, but Private Kovco's body is still in Kuwait and Australia's Defence Department is promising to make all efforts to return it as quickly as possible.

The 26-year-old soldier was cleaning his weapon on Friday, when he accidently shot himself.

There are 110 Australian troops in Baghdad as part of a security detachment assigned to protect officials.

- NEWSTALK ZB