The Afghan Taliban vowed Monday to exact revenge for the killing of 16 civilians, allegedly by an American soldier who went on a house-to-house shooting rampage Sunday in two villages near his base.
Afghanistan's parliament, meanwhile, demanded a public trial for the suspect, who is accused of killing nine children, three women and four men.
"We strongly request the government of America to punish this wild act and a have public trial in front of the people of Afghanistan," lawmakers said in a statement Monday.
The Taliban called U.S. forces "sick-minded American savages," and said in an online statement that the group would mete out punishment for the "barbaric actions."
U.S. officials have expressed shock and sadness over the attack. Afghan leaders have angrily condemned it. President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan called it an "unforgivable" crime.
