'%20id='ico-down'%20stroke='%23000000'%20stroke-width='1.5'%3e%3cg%20transform='translate(1092.250000,%20254.750000)'%3e%3cpolyline%20id='Path-2-Copy-4'%20transform='translate(5.500000,%202.750000)%20scale(1,%20-1)%20rotate(-180.000000)%20translate(-5.500000,%20-2.750000)%20'%20points='0%200%205.5%205.5%2011%200'%3e%3c/polyline%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
25 February 2005
BRUSSELS – For Belgian paratroopers have been charged with taking drugs and disobeying orders while on duty in Afghanistan, federal prosecutors confirmed on Friday.
The four were discovered taking drugs while they were on duty as part of a detachment that was supposed to be helping to guard Kabul airport, prosecutors told La Derniere Heure newspaper.
They were sent home from Afghanistan in December.
The army said that they had put NATO operations in the country in danger by their actions.
The paras will be the first Belgian soldiers to be tried by a civilian Belgian court for offences linked to their military service.
The country’s system of military tribunals was abolished at the beginning of 2004.
[Copyright Expatica 2005]
Subject: Belgian news