US halts some Afghan forces training after attacks

(AP) U.S. officials say they have halted the training of Afghan Local Police for at least a month in order to carry out intensified vetting procedures on new recruits following a string of attacks by Afghan soldiers and police on their international allies.

U.S. special operations forces spokesman Lt. Col. John Harrell says the training has been put on hold for one to two months to re-examine any potential ties trainees might have to insurgents.

He says the decision affects about 1,000 current trainees.

He says operations by already trained forces and the recruiting of new members will continue.

Harrell says there was also a brief pause in operations by Afghan special operations forces last month while those groups were re-vetted. He says the halt lasted fewer than two weeks.