KABUL – The United States embassy in Kabul said yesterday it had banned all alcohol from a camp where its guards live following allegations they had engaged in drunken brawls and lewd behaviour that put US diplomats at risk.
The US ambassador and other senior embassy officials met yesterday to discuss the issue, and interview guards as part of an investigation. They are also assessing whether any staff should be suspended or fired.
In a letter to US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, the non-partisan Project on Government Oversight said private guards from the security company ArmorGroup held parties in their camp where they stripped near-naked, drank vodka and abused Afghans.
Along with serious understaffing and other shortcomings, it said the situation undermined security at the sprawling compound at a time of growing violence in Afghanistan.
Last month, insurgents fired rockets that landed near the embassy and a suicide car bomber struck close to its gates, killing at least seven people and wounding almost 100. The Taliban said the embassy had been the target.
“Since learning of the allegations . . . the US embassy has taken a number of immediate steps to ensure our security is sound and that our embassy community is well informed,” the embassy said.
“Alcohol is now prohibited at Camp Sullivan. Embassy officials continue to interview guard force personnel . . . to assess the need for possible suspensions and terminations.” ArmorGroup employs 450 guards to provide security at the embassy under a five-year, $189 million contract that was extended in June. – (Reuters)