300 Koran burner US soldiers get mere administrative punishment

A US military investigation into the burning of Korans in Afghanistan has blamed miscommunication, poor guidance and soldiers' decisions to take "the easy way instead of the right way".

The burning of more than 300 Korans and other religious books at a US base in Afghanistan early this year triggered riots and retribution killings.

The US Army announced on Monday that six soldiers had received "administrative" punishments. They will not face criminal charges.

Administrative punishments could include demotions, extra duty, forfeiture of pay or a letter in their file.

Investigators found that service members "mishandled" Korans and other religious material and put them in an incinerator. It was concluded that there was no "malicious intent".

Read more: The Australian

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'End of the Rope' - Karzai tells the U.S. over Kandahar massacre

The Afghan president Hamid Karzai accused the United States of failing to fully cooperate with an investigation into the massacre of 16 Afghan villagers by a U.S. soldier and questioned whether more than one soldier could have been involved.

A series of blunders by the United States, including the killings in Kandahar province on Sunday and the inadvertent burning of copies of the Koran at a NATO base last month, has further strained already tense relations between the countries.

"This has been going on for too long. You have heard me before. It is by all means the end of the rope here," Karzai told reporters at the heavily fortified presidential palace.

Read details: Reuters

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Koran Burning: American Colonel and Major shot dead

Two Nato officers have been killed in the interior ministry in the Afghan capital Kabul, coalition officials say. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said an "individual" had turned his gun on the officers.

Afghan security officials said those killed were an American colonel and major. Local media reports suggest the incident followed a "verbal clash".

The incident comes amid five days of deadly protests over the burning of copies of the Koran by US soldiers.

Read more: My Global News

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