Karzai Calls for 'Accelerated' Transition after Corpses Scandal
Afghan President Hamid Karzai called Thursday for an "accelerated" transition of security responsibilities from NATO forces in the wake of a scandal over U.S. troops abusing Afghan corpses.
"The only way to put an end to such painful experiences is through an accelerated and full transition of security responsibilities to Afghan forces," his office said in a statement.
Pictures published by the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday showed U.S. soldiers posing with the remains of Taliban insurgents, one of them with a man's hand draped over his shoulder.
Karzai condemned the pictures as "inhumane and provocative,” adding: "It is such a disgusting act to take photos with body parts and then share it with others."
The president noted that similar incidents in the past had sparked an angry reaction by Afghans and the international community.
Every month this year a fresh scandal has rocked the alliance between the U.S. and the Karzai government in their joint efforts against Taliban insurgents.
In January, a video showed U.S. Marines urinating on Taliban corpses; in February U.S. soldiers burned copies of the Koran; and in March a U.S. soldier went on the rampage and murdered 17 villagers in their homes.
NATO has some 130,000 troops in Afghanistan helping Karzai's government fight the Taliban insurgency, but they are due to pull out by the end of 2014 and hand responsibility for the nation's security to Afghan forces.
Source: Agence France Presse
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