The United States Army has offered an apology for any distress caused by recently published photos of American soldiers posing next to killed Afghans.
The statement was issued on March 28 after the U.S.-based magazine "Rolling Stone" published on its website graphic images from Afghanistan as part of a special report on what it labels "The Kill Team."
Last week, the German magazine "Der Spiegel" published similar images.
In a statement, the U.S. Army said "the photos published by 'Rolling Stone' are disturbing and in striking contrast to the standards and values of the United States Army."
The statement added that "the Army apologizes for the distress" caused by the photos.
The photos are reportedly linked to an ongoing probe by U.S. military investigators of alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan involving members of the U.S. 5th Stryker Brigade.
One soldier implicated in the photos, Jeremy Morlock, was last week sentenced to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder, conspiracy and other charges.
Leading Afghan human rights campaigners have called for a thorough investigation into the alleged "kill teams" involved in such abuses.
compiled from agency reports
The statement was issued on March 28 after the U.S.-based magazine "Rolling Stone" published on its website graphic images from Afghanistan as part of a special report on what it labels "The Kill Team."
Last week, the German magazine "Der Spiegel" published similar images.
In a statement, the U.S. Army said "the photos published by 'Rolling Stone' are disturbing and in striking contrast to the standards and values of the United States Army."
The statement added that "the Army apologizes for the distress" caused by the photos.
The photos are reportedly linked to an ongoing probe by U.S. military investigators of alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan involving members of the U.S. 5th Stryker Brigade.
One soldier implicated in the photos, Jeremy Morlock, was last week sentenced to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder, conspiracy and other charges.
Leading Afghan human rights campaigners have called for a thorough investigation into the alleged "kill teams" involved in such abuses.
compiled from agency reports
