Five US soldiers are charged with
deliberately targeting Afghan civilians
amid growing discontent over the rising civilian causalities in the
war-torn country.
The troopers allegedly killed
three Afghans in Kandahar Province this year and they were charged
with murder in June.
Since then US army prosecutors have also filed additional charges of
conspiracy to commit premeditated murder -- a plot that allegedly began when
one soldier discussed how easy it would be to "toss a
grenade" at Afghan civilians, The
Seattle Times reported on Thursday.
One of the soldiers had reportedly formed what has been called a
"kill team" to randomly
execute Afghan civilians while on petrol.
Investigators say anyone who dared to report the events was threatened with
violence. All five are awaiting court martial and could face life in prison
or death if convicted.
Analysts say it could be one of the most serious war-crimes cases to emerge
from the Afghan war.
A recent UN report says that nearly 1,300 civilians were killed by NATO or
Afghan forces in the first six months of 2010.
Civilians have been the main victims of violence in Afghanistan,
particularly in the country's troubled southern and eastern provinces.
The issue of civilian casualties has caused friction between Washington and
the Afghan government.
JR/SAR/MGH
