No charges over Cheney shooting

US Vice-President Dick Cheney will not face criminal charges in relation to the accidental shooting of a companion during a hunting trip last Saturday.

Kenedy County sheriff's office backed Mr Cheney's version of events, concluding that the shooting was indeed an accident.

It said the hunting party had not been drinking at the time and had been wearing the correct safety gear.

President Bush said Mr Cheney handled the incident "just fine".

The shooting happened last Saturday during a quail hunting trip at a ranch in south Texas.

The victim, Harry Whittington, 78, has also said the shooting was an accident.

He was left with pellets in his body, leading to a minor heart attack.

Doctors say Mr Whittington is now on the road to recovery.

"Deeply traumatic"

In his first comments since the accident happened, President Bush said he was satisfied with Mr Cheney's explanation of events.

"I thought the vice-president handled the issue just fine", he said.



Mr Bush said Mr Cheney had been deeply affected by the incident, describing it as "a deeply traumatic moment" for Mr Cheney, "and obviously it was a tragic moment for Harry Whittington".

Mr Cheney came under strong criticism for not reporting the matter to the public immediately.

However, the president did not make a public objection to Mr Cheney's decision not to release details of the shooting until Sunday, the day after it happened.

"I thought his explanation yesterday was a very strong and powerful explanation and I'm satisfied with the explanation he gave," the president said.