Australian SAS soldiers were part of a patrol that killed 11 innocent tribesmen and wounded 16 in a bungled operation during the war on terror in Afghanistan, Time Magazine has reported.
The magazine says five Australian members of the Special Air Service regiment were part of a United States-led mission in eastern Afghanistan to flush out Taliban and al-Qaeda forces in 2002.
The Australians shot dead two Afghan villagers they believed to be enemy fighters, and were later engaged in a fierce battle in which another nine civilians died, some from aircraft bombs, the magazine reported.
Time journalist Rory Callinan said he spoke to villagers who confirmed the story and said Australians had not fulfilled promises to apologise and provide compensation.
One of the SAS soldiers was accused of souveniring the turban and gun of one of the dead Afghani villagers and had been asked to show cause why he should not be discharged, the report said.
Two other Australian soldiers were also issued show cause notices.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Elite-Australian-troops-killed-innocent-Afghans/2005/05/31/1117305614011.html
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