US military: Afghan policeman kills US soldier

US military: Afghan policeman kills US soldier: "US military: Afghan policeman kills US soldier

US military: Afghan policeman attacks US patrol, kills a soldier in eastern Afghanistan

FISNIK ABRASHI
AP News

Oct 16, 2008 09:15 EST

An Afghan policeman opened fire and tossed a hand grenade on a U.S. military patrol in eastern Afghanistan, killing an American soldier, the U.S. military said Thursday.

It was the second time in less than a month that an Afghan officer has killed a U.S. soldier, raising concerns that militants may have infiltrated the Afghan police force.

Meanwhile, an airstrike by foreign troops in southern Helmand province killed several women and children, a police chief said.

In the latest attack on U.S. soldiers, the policeman standing on a tower attacked the American foot patrol in Bermel district of the eastern Paktika province, the military said. The troops returned fire on the tower, killing the policemen.

The military said it was investigating the attack.

Last month, an Afghan policeman opened fire on U.S. troops at a police station in Paktia province in eastern Afghanistan, killing an American soldier and wounding three other troops. U.S. forces then killed the policeman.

The shooting took place after American troops and Afghan police brought suspected militants to the station.

In Helmand, an airstrike killed several"