Afghan Abuse Punishments Knocked

Afghans: Sentences For U.S. Soldiers 'Unexpectedly Lenient'

(AP) 

The Army has publicly acknowledged the two deaths and announced in October that up to 28 U.S. soldiers face possible charges.

According to Human Rights Watch, which said it has obtained unreleased Army reports about the deaths, the two men were chained to the ceiling in standing positions, one at the waist and one by the wrists, while their feet remained on the ground.

One of them was maimed over a five-day period, dying with his leg muscle tissue destroyed from blows to the knees and lower body, the New York-based rights group has said.

An autopsy performed by a medical examiner showed that Dilawar's legs were so damaged by blows that amputation would have been necessary, according to an Army report dated July 6, 2004.

Habibullah died of a pulmonary embolism apparently caused by blood clots formed in his legs from the beatings, according to a June 1, 2004, U.S. military report.

A spokesman for the Afghan human rights commission, a state-funded body, said the sentences were "disappointing."

"It's unbelievably lenient that these soldiers received such light sentences," said Ahmad Nader Nadery. "We want the United States to justify to us why these people have received such leniency."