US soldier in custody after Taliban prisoner’s death

KABUL - A US soldier is in custody after the death of a Taliban militant from gunshot wounds at a detention facility in Afghanistan’s restive Kandahar province, Xinhua reported Tuesday.

The victim’s body was found Sunday. He was captured Saturday in Arghandab district of the province.

The militant was held at an Afghan government facility and was awaiting formal custody, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.

“The US takes very seriously any mistreatment of detainees,” Rear Admiral Greg Smith, US forces’ communication director in Afghanistan, was quoted as saying.

“Our forces are trained to uphold the rights of persons in custody and any violation of those rights are fully investigated.”