New Delhi, Jul 17 (IANS): India is trying for the early repatriation of the body of a fisherman killed in firing from a US ship off the UAE coast, an official said Tuesday.

In a tweet, external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that India's consulate in Dubai is "pursuing efforts for early repatriation of the body of Indian national who died in tragic incident in Gulf".

An Indian national was killed and three other Indians injured when personnel on board the USNS Rappahannock, a fuel re-supply ship, opened fire on a small motor vessel near Jebel Ali port Monday evening.

Akbaruddin also tweeted that ministry officials are in touch with the family of the killed Indian to convey their condolences.

In another post, he said that India' acting consul general in Dubai has met with the injured Indians and assured all help.

Earlier, India has said it will initiate appropriate action in the shooting incident.

The US also Tuesday conveyed its condolences to the families of the killed Indian and those injured and said it is probing the Monday evening incident.

The US ship opened fire Monday evening on a fishing boat as the latter "ignored the warnings and came too close", Xinhua quoted sources as saying.