Ex-soldiers face manslaughter charges

[Swagman]

Source: news.com.au

# Australian ex-soldiers face charges
# Charges relate to night-time raid
# Five children among dead

TWO former soldiers charged over the deaths of children in Afghanistan say they will defend themselves and the reputation of Australian troops.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith has been confronted by a soldier during a visit to forces in Afghanistan.

The unnamed pair are two of three former commandos charged over a night-time raid last year in pursuit of a suspected insurgent which ended with the deaths of six civilians - five of them children.

The charges laid by the Director of Military Prosecutions against the three former members of the Special Operations Task Group, include manslaughter and dangerous conduct, The Australian reports.

“Words will never adequately express our regret that women and children were killed and injured during the incident on February 12, 2009,” the two soldiers said in a statement today.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/ex-soldiers-face-manslaughter-charges/story-e6frfkvr-1225929958222#ixzz10i370GXj



Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/ex-soldiers-face-manslaughter-charges/story-e6frfkvr-1225929958222#ixzz10i2hXlB0

[Turborama]

1. AJ English on this

Troops on trial over Afghan deaths
Former Australian special forces accused of causing civilian deaths during security operation carried out in 2009.

Last Modified: 27 Sep 2010 11:56 GMT

Three former Australian soldiers will be charged with manslaughter over the deaths of six civilians and injuries suffered by four others in a military operation in Afghanistan last year, the country's chief military prosecutor has announced.

Brigadier Lyn McDade, director of military prosecutions, said on Monday the former members of Australia's Special Operations Task Group were involved in an operation to clear a compound on February 12, 2009, in Afghanistan.

"As a result of that compound clearance operation, six people died and up to four people sustained injuries," McDade said in a statement, which gave no more details of the operation. "The accused persons will be charged with various service offences, including manslaughter, dangerous conduct, failing to comply with a lawful general order and prejudicial conduct."

Australia has about 1,500 troops in Afghanistan, including about 200 special forces and about 1,000 troops based at Tirin Kot, in Uruzgan province, working on reconstruction and helping to train the Afghan army.

From: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/09/20109279130858721.html