US soldier in Afghan killings charged with 17 counts of murder

KABUL: A US Army staff sergeant was charged today with 17 counts of premeditated murder and six counts of attempted murder over a shooting spree in the southtoern Afghan province of Kandahar, US military forces in Afghanistan said in a statement. Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, a 38-year-old veteran of four combat tours, is accused of walking off his base on March 11 under cover of darkness and opening fi re at civilians in at least two different villages in Panjwai district.