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| US axes Kabul guards for lewdness | US axes Kabul guards for lewdness |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Eight private security guards at the US embassy in Kabul have been sacked over claims that they took part in drunken parties and lewd bullying rituals. | Eight private security guards at the US embassy in Kabul have been sacked over claims that they took part in drunken parties and lewd bullying rituals. |
| The embassy said the guards, who were photographed in various stages of nudity, had now left Afghanistan. | The embassy said the guards, who were photographed in various stages of nudity, had now left Afghanistan. |
| Embassy officials did not confirm the guards' nationalities or names. | Embassy officials did not confirm the guards' nationalities or names. |
| A standards watchdog revealed the scandal this week saying guards had brawled, drunk vodka from each other's buttocks and urinated on people. | A standards watchdog revealed the scandal this week saying guards had brawled, drunk vodka from each other's buttocks and urinated on people. |
| The Project on Government Oversight, which sent a letter to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton outlining the allegations, said it was pleased the state department had taken action. | The Project on Government Oversight, which sent a letter to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton outlining the allegations, said it was pleased the state department had taken action. |
| 'Deviant' practices | 'Deviant' practices |
| But the watchdog said it had not been informed of the identities of those who were sacked, and expressed concern that the wrong people might have been punished. | But the watchdog said it had not been informed of the identities of those who were sacked, and expressed concern that the wrong people might have been punished. |
| "We have been told people are being fired for simply being in the photographs. We do know a number of those were unwilling participants." | "We have been told people are being fired for simply being in the photographs. We do know a number of those were unwilling participants." |
| The body said in some circumstances supervisors had forced more junior guards to take part in "deviant hazing", referring to humiliating rituals. | The body said in some circumstances supervisors had forced more junior guards to take part in "deviant hazing", referring to humiliating rituals. |
| It released an e-mail it had received from one staff member describing in detail the alleged behaviour by some guards and supervisors. | |
| The embassy said a team from the state department had arrived in Kabul to lead an investigation into the scandal. | The embassy said a team from the state department had arrived in Kabul to lead an investigation into the scandal. |
| The firm the guards worked for, ArmorGroup North America, has not yet responded to the claims. | The firm the guards worked for, ArmorGroup North America, has not yet responded to the claims. |
| But the US embassy said in a statement: "The entire senior management team of ArmorGroup North America in Kabul is being replaced immediately. The embassy security office continues its interviews of every one of the ArmorGroup guards." | But the US embassy said in a statement: "The entire senior management team of ArmorGroup North America in Kabul is being replaced immediately. The embassy security office continues its interviews of every one of the ArmorGroup guards." |
| American use of private security firms in its conflicts has become highly controversial in recent years. | American use of private security firms in its conflicts has become highly controversial in recent years. |
| The Iraqi government banned US firm Blackwater after its security guards killed at least 14 civilians in Baghdad in 2007. | The Iraqi government banned US firm Blackwater after its security guards killed at least 14 civilians in Baghdad in 2007. |
| Analysts say the Kabul scandal reveals potentially dangerous security lapses at the embassy, where almost 1,000 staff work - though US officials say they are satisfied that the compound is properly guarded. | Analysts say the Kabul scandal reveals potentially dangerous security lapses at the embassy, where almost 1,000 staff work - though US officials say they are satisfied that the compound is properly guarded. |
| It is also being interpreted as another blow to US attempts at winning over the Afghan population. | It is also being interpreted as another blow to US attempts at winning over the Afghan population. |