No rush for Afghan exit after killings, says Obama

US President Barack Obama has promised that international forces will not "rush for the exits" in Afghanistan, after an American soldier was accused of murdering 16 civilians.

Mr Obama said foreign troops must be withdrawn in a responsible way.

The killings in Kandahar province have strained relations between Afghans and foreign forces.

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta says the suspect could face the death penalty, if found guilty.

Mr Panetta said that the intention was to try the case in a US military court.

Asked whether the soldier, who gave himself up, had confessed to the alleged crimes, the US defence secretary said: "I suspect that that was the case."

'More determined'

Mr Obama told local CBS station KDKA that the shooting was "absolutely heartbreaking and tragic".

When asked if the incident had made him think that the troop withdrawal should be quickened up, he said: "It makes me more determined to make sure we're getting our troops home."

He added: "What we don't want to do is to do it in a way that is just a rush for the exits."

Mr Obama said that international forces had to make sure the Afghans could secure their borders and stop al-Qaeda from getting back into the country.

BBC