ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: At this hour, CNN national correspondent David Ensor has learned that the Central Intelligence Agency in the last few days has handed pout punishments to those in the agency it considers responsible for the mistakes that led to the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. That bombing took place during the Kosovo conflict. And David Ensor joins us now by telephone. David, what can you tell us about this news report?</s>DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Andria, I understand that one CIA employee has been fired and approximately six others have been sanctioned in one way or another because the agency believes after fully looking into the matter that these people were partially responsible for the mistakes that led to the accidental bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. As I say, one person has been fired. Among those that have been sanctioned in one way or another is a senior official at the CIA. The sanctions include everything from oral warnings to letters of reprimand that would preclude any further promotions or raises for the people involved. Today, key members of Capitol -- on Capitol Hill, key members of intelligence committees and so forth, congressmen, were briefed, and diplomats from the Chinese embassy were also notified today that these actions had been taken Thursday and Friday of last week. So a spokesman, Bill Harwell, from the CIA said this evening, "While we can never undo the mistakes that led to the bombing, we are satisfied that the CIA has stood up, both organizationally and individually, and taken appropriate responsibility for our mistakes." Now the officials from whom I understand this information were unable to say whether or not any disciplinary action will be taken against any other U.S. officials at other agencies, but clearly the CIA was not the only agency that approved this mistake. So there may be further actions yet to come -- Andria.</s>HALL: Big news out of Washington tonight. David Ensor, CNN national security correspondent, reporting there. Thank you, David. Search CNN.com CNNSI.com CNNmoney.com The Web
CIA Metes Out Punishment for Chinese Embassy Bombing