BREAKING NEWS

Sixth US soldier charged in Afghan civilian deaths

SEATTLE - Military prosecutors on Tuesday charged a sixth US soldier with direct involvement in the murder of unarmed Afghan civilians, implicating a sergeant who was referred earlier for court-martial on lesser offenses.
It marked the first time since the spring of 2010 that the Army has formally brought new charges in the most serious prosecution of alleged US military atrocities in nearly 10 years of war in Afghanistan.
Staff Sergeant David Bram, 27, was newly charged with a single count each of solicitation to commit premeditated murder, of failure to report crimes including murder, and of planting evidence near the body of an Afghan national.
He also is charged with unlawfully engaging in "murder scenario conversations" with subordinates and with aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon on Afghan civilians.