Insider attack kills US troops

Two US soldiers were killed in the attack on Monday at a joint US-Afghan base in the eastern province of Wardak, officials speaking for US forces in Afghanistan announced.

Five Afghans were also reported to have died, although this was not confirmed in the statement.

"Two US Forces-Afghanistan service members died in eastern Afghanistan today when an individual wearing an Afghan National Security Forces uniform turned a weapon on US and Afghan forces," the statement read.

Interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said the attack took place in the town of Jalrez and that officials had been sent from Kabul to investigate.

The incident comes after the expiry of an ultimatum issued two weeks ago by Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Karzai has demanded that the US remove special forces operating in the province, claiming the elite troops were fuelling "insecurity and instability."

In 2012, more than 60 foreign soldiers died in "insider attacks," known as "green on blue" incidents in military jargon.

A NATO civilian contractor was killed in the eastern province of Kapisa on Friday by three people wearing Afghan security force uniforms.

Afghan security personnel are to take over responsibility for the fight against the Taliban and other militants, with Western forces set to leave the country at the end of 2014.

rc/hc (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)