Nato forces kill insurgent behind American soldier's 'insider' killing

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan soldier-turned-insurgent who was feted by the Taleban for killing an American soldier during an insider attack in eastern Afghanistan last year has been killed in a raid, Nato said on Monday.

Nato said the insurgent, identified only as Mahmood, and an accomplice, Rashid, died in last Wednesday's operation in eastern Kunar province's Ghaziabad district. No other details were provided.

Mahmood was thought responsible for the May 11 killing of US Army 1st Lieutenant Alejo Thompson, who died during an insider attack on a base in Kunar. The attack also wounded two American soldiers.

After he fled, a man named Mahmood was highlighted in a Taleban video that showed him being welcomed as a hero while entering an insurgent camp. In the video, he was shown in his Afghan army uniform, his US-made M-16 assault rifle, and with garlands of flowers around his neck. The Taleban claimed he had defected to their side.