Rogue US troop murders 'unforgiveable'
2012-03-11 17:28
Kabul - Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Sunday condemned as "unforgivable" the slaughter of 16 villagers in their homes by a rogue American soldier.
"When Afghan people are killed deliberately by US forces this action is murder and terror and an unforgivable action," Karzai said in statement.
An American soldier entered the homes of civilians in the southern Kandahar province and killed 16 people, including nine children and three women, the statement said.
"The government and the people of Afghanistan demand an explanation from the United States government of this incident," Karzai said.
Washington offered condolences to the families of the victims.
"The United States extends deepest condolences to the families of today's tragic shooting and we're saddened by this violent act against our Afghan friends," a state department spokesperson said.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families."
The incident occurred early on Sunday when a US soldier walked out of his base in Kandahar and began shooting villagers in their homes, Western and Afghan sources said.
The rampage was the latest in a series of incidents that have badly frayed US-Afghan relations, complicating negotiations on a strategic partnership agreement between the two countries for when US combat operations end in 2014.
