U.S., Afghan Troops Killed In Insider Attack

The incident follows the end of a two-week ultimatum by Afghan President Hamid Karzai that called on U.S. Special Forces to leave the province because of alleged abuses by Afghan forces under their command.

The U.S. military says two of its soldiers in Afghanistan have been killed along with several local troops in the latest suspected insider attack on the international force.

Afghan officials said the March 11 incident took place in Wardak Province, just south of Kabul.

A U.S. military statement said the deaths occurred "when an individual wearing an Afghan National Security Forces uniform turned a weapon on U.S. and Afghan forces."

A spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said several Afghan soldiers were also killed.

Afghan government official Sediq Sediqqi said investigators had been sent to Wardak.

A police official in Wardak Province, southeast of Kabul, earlier said the incident happened in the Jalrez district.

Provincial police official Abdul Razaq Koraishi said three Afghan officers were killed in the attack.

The majority of U.S. troops in Wardak are special operations forces.

The incident follows the end of a two-week ultimatum by Afghan President Hamid Karzai that called on U.S. Special Forces to leave the province because of alleged abuses by Afghan forces under their command.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa