US pays $50,000 to each Afghan shooting victim

Washington -  The United States has reportedly paid 50,000 dollars in compensation for each Afghan killed in a shooting rampage allegedly carried out by an American soldier in Kandahar  province.

According to Kandahar provincial council member Agha Lalai, the families of the dead received the money on Saturday at the governor's office.

CBS news quoted Lalai, as saying that each wounded person received 11,000 dollars.

"They were told that the money came from U.S. President Barack Obama," Lalai added.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for NATO and US forces declined to confirm or deny the payments, saying that while coalition members often make compensation payments, they are usually kept  private.

"As the settlement of claims is in most cases a sensitive topic for those who have suffered loss, it is usually a matter of agreement that the terms of the settlement remain confidential," the  report quoted Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings, as saying.

Staff Sgt. Robert Bales is accused of sneaking out of his base on March 11 then entering into houses in two nearby villages and opening fire on sleeping families within.

Afghan officials and villagers have counted 16 dead, 12 in the village of Balandi and four in neighboring Alkozai, and six wounded.

According to the report, the families had previously received smaller compensation payments from Afghan officials, 2,000 dollars for each death and 1,000 dollars for each person wounded.