Taliban denounces US urination video
2012-01-12 14:17
Kabul - The Afghan Taliban on Thursday denounced as "barbaric" a video apparently showing US Marines urinating on dead Taliban fighters.
"This is a barbaric act. Over the past 10 years there have been hundreds of similar cases that were not revealed," Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahed said.
The US military said on Thursday it was investigating a "disgusting" online video purportedly showing Marines urinating on the corpses of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
The video shows what appears to be four servicemen, dressed in US military uniform, relieving themselves onto three bloodied bodies on the ground, apparently aware that they are being filmed.
"Have a great day, buddy," one of them says, giggling.
The Pentagon has not yet verified the video, but spokesperson John Kirby: "Regardless of the circumstances or who is in the video, this is... egregious, disgusting behaviour, unacceptable for anyone in uniform."
"It turned my stomach," he added of the video, which was posted on the Live Leak website.
If authenticated, the images - which conjure up previous abuses committed by US troops during the decade-long war - could spark deep anger and resentment in Afghanistan and the wider Muslim world.
"We will investigate this and will have a proper statement later," the Taliban spokesperson said.
