KABUL: Fifteen Afghans were killed by a rogue US soldier who attacked them in their homes in southern Kandahar province in the early hours of Sunday morning, two village elders told AFP.
The toll could not be independently confirmed, but NATO's International Security Assistance Force said it has arrested a soldier "in connection to an incident that resulted in Afghan casualties in Kandahar province".
An elder from Najeeban village in Panjwayi district, Haji Samad, told AFP: "Eleven members of my family are dead. They are all dead."
Haji Sayed Jan from from Alkozai village said: "My home was attacked and I lost four family members."
A spokesman for the provincial governor said earlier that 10 to 16 people had been killed or injured.
"Today at around 3:00 am a US soldier walked off his base and started shooting at civilians. Ten to 16 people are killed and injured," said Ahmad Jawed Faysal.
This version of events -- but not the death toll -- was confirmed by a Western official.
"A soldier walks off the base in the early hours Sunday morning and starts shooting. He got back to the office and was detained," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"This is a deeply regrettable incident and we extend our thoughts and concerns to the families involved," ISAF said.
"US Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A), in cooperation with Afghan authorities, will investigate this incident and release additional information as appropriate."
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