Afghans rage over transfer of accused U.S. gunman
- 12 years ago
Afghan protesters rally in Jalalabad, chanting "death to America" and "long live Islam".
They are angry that U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, accused of killed 16 Kandahar villagers in a bloody rampage, will not be tried in Afghanistan.
Bales arrived at Fort Leavenworth, a Kansas base, on Friday where he will be held in a solitary cell.
Demonstrators say Bales should be tried under Islamic law for his crimes.
(SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) ANTI U.S. PROTESTER, JAMAL KHAN
"We don't want the laws practiced by the Americans and other foreigners. We have our Koran and our Islamic law and the U.S. perpetrator must be put on trial according to our laws."
The four-tour veteran is charged with gunning down villagers, including nine children and three women last week, damaging relations between the U.S. and Afghanistan.
In response, Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for NATO troops to confine themselves to major bases and questioned whether only one soldier could have been involved in the killings.
He also demanded the handover of security to Afghan police and soldiers by 2013, a year ahead of schedule.
Jessica Gray, Reuters
They are angry that U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, accused of killed 16 Kandahar villagers in a bloody rampage, will not be tried in Afghanistan.
Bales arrived at Fort Leavenworth, a Kansas base, on Friday where he will be held in a solitary cell.
Demonstrators say Bales should be tried under Islamic law for his crimes.
(SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) ANTI U.S. PROTESTER, JAMAL KHAN
"We don't want the laws practiced by the Americans and other foreigners. We have our Koran and our Islamic law and the U.S. perpetrator must be put on trial according to our laws."
The four-tour veteran is charged with gunning down villagers, including nine children and three women last week, damaging relations between the U.S. and Afghanistan.
In response, Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for NATO troops to confine themselves to major bases and questioned whether only one soldier could have been involved in the killings.
He also demanded the handover of security to Afghan police and soldiers by 2013, a year ahead of schedule.
Jessica Gray, Reuters