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German troops in skull photos row German troops in skull photos row
(about 1 hour later)
Photos apparently showing German troops posing with a skull in Afghanistan have caused outrage in Germany.Photos apparently showing German troops posing with a skull in Afghanistan have caused outrage in Germany.
The tabloid newspaper Bild, which carried the photos, says they show German troops in Afghanistan in 2003.The tabloid newspaper Bild, which carried the photos, says they show German troops in Afghanistan in 2003.
On one of the pictures, a soldier is seen holding the skull next to his exposed penis, on another - soldiers pose with the skull on their jeep.On one of the pictures, a soldier is seen holding the skull next to his exposed penis, on another - soldiers pose with the skull on their jeep.
German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung expressed disgust at the photos and ordered an investigation. German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung expressed disgust at the photos and ordered an immediate investigation.
"We are taking the accusations seriously," German defence ministry spokesman Thomas Raabe said. Anyone who behaves this way has no place in the Bundeswehr German military Franz Josef JungGerman defence minister
Two possible suspects have already been identified and are being questioned, said army chief of staff General Wolfgang Schneiderhan.
One of suspects was still with the armed forces and the other had left the army, the general said.
'Repugnance and horror'
Mr Jung pledged "disciplinary or even criminal measures" for those involved, if the story was confirmed.
"These pictures arouse repugnance and horror," the minister said.
"Anyone who behaves this way has no place in the Bundeswehr [German military]," he added.
The story was given wide coverage on German television on Wednesday.The story was given wide coverage on German television on Wednesday.
"We can't use such people in our army," Bernhard Gertz, head of the main organisation representing German troops, said on ARD television channel."We can't use such people in our army," Bernhard Gertz, head of the main organisation representing German troops, said on ARD television channel.
"We must investigate exactly how such degeneration and misbehaviour can happen despite good training and good supervision," he added."We must investigate exactly how such degeneration and misbehaviour can happen despite good training and good supervision," he added.
Authenticity?Authenticity?
The Bild newspaper did not say how it had obtained the photographs, nor gave any proof of their authenticity.The Bild newspaper did not say how it had obtained the photographs, nor gave any proof of their authenticity.
It is not clear where the skull in the pictures came from, the newspaper admitted, adding that according to a military source it could have been taken from a mass grave.It is not clear where the skull in the pictures came from, the newspaper admitted, adding that according to a military source it could have been taken from a mass grave.
Germany has about 2,800 troops stationed in Afghanistan within Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).Germany has about 2,800 troops stationed in Afghanistan within Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).
Unlike British, American and Canadian troops, who are fighting the Taleban in the south, the Germans are based in the relatively calm of the capital Kabul and in the north of the country. Unlike British, American and Canadian troops, who are fighting the Taleban in the south, the Germans are based in the relative calm of the capital Kabul and in the north of the country.
Last month, the Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament, voted to extend the mission of the German forces in Afghanistan until October next year because of the worsening security situation there.Last month, the Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament, voted to extend the mission of the German forces in Afghanistan until October next year because of the worsening security situation there.