Interpreter Kills Two U.S. Soldiers In Afghanistan

KABUL (Reuters) -- An interpreter in Afghanistan shot dead two U.S. soldiers, a U.S. military official said toay, adding that the attacker appeared to be a disgruntled employee rather than a militant.

The NATO-led force in Afghanistan said earlier that two U.S. service members and one "U.S. employee" had been killed in an incident in the east of the country on January 29, without giving further details.

"Initial indications are this was a case of a disgruntled employee," said the U.S. military official.

The incident took place in Wardak Province southwest of Kabul, which was also the scene of a clash between Afghan troops and NATO-led forces overnight in which the foreign troops called in an air strike that killed four Afghan soldiers.

There was no indication that the two incidents were linked.

An Afghan provincial official, who also asked not to be named, said the interpreter had quarrelled with the soldiers over pay and treatment, before opening fire.

The interpreter was shot dead by other soldiers after killing the two.