NATO: Afghan interpreter kills 2 U.S. service members
Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- An Afghan interpreter killed two U.S. service members in central Afghanistan, a NATO official who asked not to be named told CNN. The official -- who said the incident took place in Wardak province on Friday -- said the interpreter was then killed. While there were no further details, the official said the interpreter was believed to be a disgruntled worker and not a Taliban sympathizer. The source wanted to remain anonymous because he is not authorized to speak to the media. On Friday, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said two U.S. troops and an American citizen were killed in eastern Afghanistan. The incident is under investigation, ISAF said. No other information was available. Elsewhere a so-called "friendly fire" incident between NATO troops and the Afghan army left four Afghan soldiers dead and seven wounded Saturday, local authorities said. The incident occurred at 3:30 a.m. in the Wardak Province in central Afghanistan, said Shahidullah Shahid, the governor's spokesman. An incident caused the exchange of gunfire between troops of the International Security Assistance Force and members of the Afghan National Army, Shahid said. ISAF members said they are investigating the incident and working with Afghanistan's defense ministry to determine what happened. The Afghan defense ministry released a statement saying the gun battle occurred during a joint operation between international troops and the Afghan army. The army was in the area when ISAF soldiers arrived. Both sides mistook each other for enemy combatants and gunfire was exchanged. "The international forces called in air support. Unfortunately in the air strike, four ANA (army soldiers) were killed and several were injured," the statement said. "The staff of the minister of defense sincerely expresses his condolences to the martyred families and condemns the attack. The people responsible for this incident will certainly be punished according to military law." The clash is a stark contrast to recent incidents when ISAF troops stood with members of the Afghan army to fight off insurgents. The international alliance was formed under a U.N. mandate to bolster a secure environment and support the reconstruction of Afghanistan. NATO took command in 2003. The force comprises about 50,000 troops from 42 countries, according to the organization. Part of the international alliance's mission is "to support the growth in capacity and capability of the Afghan National Security Forces," according to its Web site. A few days ago, the international force expressed regret for the killing of a religious leader in a shooting Thursday outside a U.S. military base near Kabul. The shooting prompted angry street demonstrations against international soldiers. A convoy fired "on what appeared to be a threatening vehicle" and "regrettably" an imam was shot and wounded, and later died at a hospital, ISAF said. "On behalf of ISAF, I express my sincere regrets for this loss of life and convey my deepest condolences to his family," ISAF spokesman Brig Gen. Eric Tremblay said about the Thursday shooting.
Source: CNN
China hits back at US over Taiwan weapons sale
China has announced a series of moves against the US in retaliation for a proposed weapons sale to Taiwan worth $6.4bn (£4bn). Beijing said it would suspend military exchanges with the US, review co-operation on major issues and impose sanctions on companies selling arms. Ties are already strained by rows over trade and internet censorship. Taiwan's president welcomed the sale, saying it would make his country "more confident and secure". Beijing has hundreds of missiles pointed at the island and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control if Taiwan moved towards formal independence. Taiwan and China have been ruled by separate governments since the end of a civil war in 1949. China's Xinhua state news agency quoted the defence ministry as saying: "Considering the severe harm and odious effect of US arms sales to Taiwan, the Chinese side has decided to suspend planned mutual military visits." "We strongly demand that the US respect the Chinese side's interests", it added, calling for the sale to be stopped. The foreign ministry, meanwhile, said it would impose sanctions on US companies selling weapons to Taiwan, and that co-operation on major international issues would be affected. But the US, like the EU, has banned its companies selling arms to China since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, so it was not clear what effect the Chinese move would have. Xinhua also said the US defence attache had been summoned. Defence ties between the two countries have been difficult for several years because of differences over Taiwan, but the two countries' leaders pledged to improve them in 2009. 'More confident' The moves came after Mr He said the arms deal would have "repercussions that neither side wishes to see". US Taiwan arms plan announced "The United States' announcement of the planned weapons sales to Taiwan will have a seriously negative impact on many important areas of exchanges and co-operation between the two countries," Mr He said in a statement published on the foreign ministry website. Earlier China summoned US Ambassador Jon Huntsman to give a warning about the consequences of the deal and to urge its immediate cancellation. Taiwan, meanwhile, welcomed the US move. "It will let Taiwan feel more confident and secure so we can have more interactions with China," the Central News Agency quoted President Ma Ying-jeou as saying. The Pentagon earlier notified the US Congress of the proposed arms sale, which forms part of a package first pledged by the Bush administration. Friday's notification to Congress by the Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) was required by law. It does not mean the sale has been concluded. US lawmakers have 30 days to comment on the proposed sale, Associated Press reported. If there are no objections, it would proceed. The arms package includes 114 Patriot missiles, 60 Black Hawk helicopters and communications equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fleet, the agency said in a statement. It does not include F-16 fighter jets, which Taiwan's military has been seeking. Our correspondent says the deal has been in the pipeline for a long time and is nearing its conclusion, but China does want to stop it. Beijing has previously warned the US not to go ahead with arms sales to Taiwan. Last week US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton angered Beijing with a call to China to investigate cyber attacks on search giant Google, after the company said email accounts of human rights activists had been hacked. The DSCA said the proposed sale would support Taiwan's "continuing efforts to modernise its armed forces and enhance its defensive capability." It added: "The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region." The US is the leading arms supplier to Taiwan, despite switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. Washington regards it as an obligation to provide Taiwan with defensive arms.
Source: BBC
Source: BBC
