This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-17343437

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Afghan massacre: US soldier 'acted alone' in Kandahar Afghan massacre: US soldier 'acted alone' in Kandahar
(about 2 hours later)
A US soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians in a night-time rampage acted alone, US officials say.A US soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians in a night-time rampage acted alone, US officials say.
The Pentagon said in a media briefing that the killings, in the early hours of Sunday, were "tragic" but insisted it was an isolated incident.The Pentagon said in a media briefing that the killings, in the early hours of Sunday, were "tragic" but insisted it was an isolated incident.
The soldier has not been named, but he is reported to be in his 30s with three children. White House spokesman Jay Carney said the schedule for US troop withdrawal would not be affected by the shootings.
Afghan MPs earlier passed a motion saying civilians have lost patience with foreign troops.Afghan MPs earlier passed a motion saying civilians have lost patience with foreign troops.
The incident has put more strain on relations between Afghans and foreign forces.The incident has put more strain on relations between Afghans and foreign forces.
Anti-US sentiment is already high after soldiers burned some copies of the Koran at a Nato base in Kabul last month.Anti-US sentiment is already high after soldiers burned some copies of the Koran at a Nato base in Kabul last month.
US officials have repeatedly apologised for the Koran incident, which sparked a series of protests and attacks that killed at least 30 people and six US troops.US officials have repeatedly apologised for the Koran incident, which sparked a series of protests and attacks that killed at least 30 people and six US troops.
The Taliban has promised revenge attacks for the latest killings. A tribal elder told the BBC that he would not be calling for protests.The Taliban has promised revenge attacks for the latest killings. A tribal elder told the BBC that he would not be calling for protests.
Experienced soldierExperienced soldier
Details about the shootings are still unclear, but the American soldier left his base in the southern province of Kandahar in the early hours of Sunday.Details about the shootings are still unclear, but the American soldier left his base in the southern province of Kandahar in the early hours of Sunday.
He walked into several houses and apparently shot and killed 16 people, mostly women and children.He walked into several houses and apparently shot and killed 16 people, mostly women and children.
The US military is scrambling to make sense of the apparently inexplicable. While investigations continue, the Pentagon is not releasing the name or unit of the soldier involved. It seems he turned himself in after returning to his base in Kandahar province. Officials seem confident that he acted alone.
A Pentagon spokesman, George Little, described the killings as tragic and deplorable. They come on the heels of two other episodes which have undermined the military's reputation in Afghanistan - photos showing US Marines urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban fighters, and the burning of Korans at the Bagram air base. Mr Little said it would be wrong to see the three incidents as part of any broader trend.
One witness said she saw the man drag a woman out of her house and repeatedly hit her head against a wall.One witness said she saw the man drag a woman out of her house and repeatedly hit her head against a wall.
Officials have offered no explanation for the incident, but reports suggest the soldier might have been drunk, or had suffered a nervous breakdown.Officials have offered no explanation for the incident, but reports suggest the soldier might have been drunk, or had suffered a nervous breakdown.
The Pentagon confirmed that he turned himself in to the military authorities after he returned to base.The Pentagon confirmed that he turned himself in to the military authorities after he returned to base.
The soldier has not been named, but he is reported to be in his 30s with three children.
Defence officials said that the soldier was from the conventional army, not special forces, and confirmed that he had completed multiple tours in Iraq but was on his first tour of duty in Afghanistan.Defence officials said that the soldier was from the conventional army, not special forces, and confirmed that he had completed multiple tours in Iraq but was on his first tour of duty in Afghanistan.
The Pentagon said the soldier's name would not be released while the investigation was going on, but added that there was "every indication" that he had acted alone. Multiple media reports identify the soldier as a member of the 2-3 Infantry, 3rd Stryker Brigade combat team, a unit based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in the north-western state of Washington.
US media reported officials as saying that he was attached to a unit based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in the north-western state of Washington.
That same base was home to the so-called "kill team", a rogue unit led by Sgt Calvin Gibbs that kept grisly souvenirs of Afghans they killed.That same base was home to the so-called "kill team", a rogue unit led by Sgt Calvin Gibbs that kept grisly souvenirs of Afghans they killed.
The Pentagon said the soldier's name would not be released while the investigation was going on, but added that there was "every indication" that he had acted alone.
'Difficult and complex'
Nato and US officials have insisted that there would be no change in strategy in Afghanistan after Sunday's attacks.Nato and US officials have insisted that there would be no change in strategy in Afghanistan after Sunday's attacks.
Nato's Isaf forces plan to withdraw all of its combat forces by the end of 2014.
American troops are currently following that timetable.
"The focus of our overall strategy is not in reaction to a single event," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters on Monday.
Speaking at the United Nations, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the killings underscored that the US had faced a "difficult and complex few weeks" in Afghanistan.Speaking at the United Nations, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the killings underscored that the US had faced a "difficult and complex few weeks" in Afghanistan.
"This terrible incident does not change our steadfast dedication to protecting the Afghan people and doing everything we can to help build a strong and stable Afghanistan," she told reporters."This terrible incident does not change our steadfast dedication to protecting the Afghan people and doing everything we can to help build a strong and stable Afghanistan," she told reporters.