Germany dismisses two soldiers over skull photos

Two German soldiers had been suspended for profaning human skulls in Afghanistan, Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung said on Friday.

"Two soldiers have been suspended from their duties," the minister told journalists.

Photos of German peacekeeping troops playing with human skulls in Afghanistan were published on Wednesday and Thursday in German media. It was unclear where the skulls had come from.

Jung said that all soldiers who had been confirmed as taking part in the scandal would be dismissed. "People who behave in such a manner don't belong in the armed forces," he said.

German state prosecutors said on Friday they were investigating criminal charges against seven suspects in total, including the two soldiers who had been suspended.

Profaning human skulls is a legal offence in Germany punishable by up to three years in prison.

The mass-circulation Bild newspaper which published some of the photos said on Friday that it planned to publish more pictures of German troops playing with human sculls over the weekend.

Defense ministry officials expressed concern that German soldiers and nationals could be targeted by insurgents because of the images.

Germany has about 2,500 peacekeepers in Afghanistan and is in command of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in the north of the country.

Source: Xinhua