Afghans demand justice for massacre victims

U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul.

The meeting follows the massacre of 16 civilians in Kandahar by what officials say was a lone, rogue U.S. soldier.

The staff sergeant - who gave himself up shortly after the attack - has been flown out of Afghanistan.

On the streets of the capital Kabul people are calling for the perpetrator to be tried in-country.

(SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) KABUL RESIDENT MOHAMMAD AFGHAN, SAYING:

"The American who killed 16 innocent people for no reason must be tried in our country. We have a government, a court and a judicial system in our country. This case must be taken seriously and the punishment should be given to him in public. So that in future, this will serve as a lesson to Americans and other foreigners who are in Afghanistan."

The shootings underscored instability in the country more than 10 years into an increasingly unpopular war.

The incident has ratcheted up tension across the country, further inflaming a people already incensed by the burning of Korans at a NATO base last month.

Nick Rowlands, Reuters.