Australia to fire troops over Afghan killings

Agency: Australia’s defence forces have sent notices of likely dismissal to 10 special forces soldiers following last week’s damning report on the murder of 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners.

According to BBC, they are suspected of being accessories or witnesses to the killings, or of being dishonest in testifying.

They are separate from the 19 Special Air Service troops who could face prosecution for the murders.

Australia’s prime minister and top military commander have apologised.

Afghanistan called the murders unforgiveable but welcomed last week’s report as a step towards justice.

Two more soldiers are reported to have been sacked already. They are reported by Australian media to have been witnesses to the killing of an Afghan man in a field, a case that was the subject of a TV investigation.

The report blamed the murders of “prisoners, farmers or civilians” in between 2009 and 13 on an unchecked “warrior culture” among some soldiers.

It said 25 special forces soldiers had taken part in unlawful killings directly or as “accessories”, across 23 separate incidents.

It also found evidence that junior soldiers were told to get their first kill by shooting prisoners, in a practice known as “blooding”. Weapons and other items were then planted near Afghan bodies to cover up crimes