The Associated Press’s latest article on the downing of a Blackwater security contractors’ helicopter is beginning to back away from their possibly false report that four of the Americans were killed “execution style.”

Iraqi and U.S. officials said earlier that four of the five Americans who died in the downing of a U.S. security company’s helicopter in a dangerous Sunni neighborhood in central Baghdad on Tuesday were shot in the head execution-style _ though it was unclear if they were alive when shot.

The two bodies shown in the video had no visible gunshot wounds to the head or any other visible wounds. The dark-haired man’s hair was tangled and matted but it was difficult to see from the footage if it was blood or dirt.

Another militant group, Ansar al-Sunnah Army, which also has claimed responsibility for downing the helicopter, said in a statement posted Wednesday on an Islamic Web site that its fighters “rushed toward the crash of the helicopter while under fire from a second (U.S.) helicopter and killed three U.S. soldiers.”

Here’s the backpedaling, in a statement that was not included in the first or second round of reports:

The authenticity of the two statements could not be verified.

That’s more than they ever admitted about “Jamil Hussein.”

As I wrote yesterday, my Iraq source also contradicted another detail in the AP report, that all five casualties were in the helicopter that crashed.

My source said that one of the killed Americans was in a second helicopter, and this is supported by a news release from the US Embassy in Baghdad. (Hat tip: Gateway Pundit.)

And it makes no mention of “shots to the back of the head.”

News Release
For Immediate Release
January 24, 2007

STATEMENT BY U.S. AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ
ZALMAY KHALILZAD ON BLACKWATER HELICOPTER INCIDENT

The U.S. Embassy is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of five Blackwater security professionals who were killed Tuesday during an attack in Baghdad. These five American citizens were our colleagues and worked on behalf of the United States Government to protect American diplomats and missions in Iraq.

They were killed during an attack on a security detail in eastern Baghdad where two Embassy employees were attending a routine meeting. One individual was shot while flying in a helicopter trying to protect the building during the attack. The other four were in a second helicopter which crashed under heavy gunfire. Two other individuals were wounded in the attack. They were treated for their injuries and released on Tuesday. They represent the best of America, showing valor and courage in the work they did each day.

The United States condemns this attack. We vow to find those who committed these acts of murder and bring them to justice.

On behalf of the U.S. Embassy and the entire American community in Iraq, we hope for the speedy recovery of the injured and our thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those who were killed.

As soon as official autopsy reports are released, I’ll post the truth about what happened to these brave Americans, whether or not it supports the Associated Press’s contentions.

And at some point, the mainstream media will be forced to look at how they are being used to advance these kinds of negative, exaggerated, and fabricated stories.