U.S. general investigated for prosecutions

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- A U.S. Army general is being investigated on allegations he overstepped his bounds in trying to prosecute U.S. troops for murder in Afghanistan.

The U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General launched the probe into Lt. Gen. Francis Kearney at the request of U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., after The Washington Times reported Kearney's alleged activities in October.

In March, Kearney ordered the redeployment of 120 members of the Marine Special Operations Command Fox Company out of Afghanistan in the middle of a military investigation into the shooting deaths of 19 civilians during an ambush. Last month, Marine investigators said the company had acted appropriately and shouldn't face disciplinary measures.

In June, Kearney ordered charges of premeditated murder be brought against two Special Forces soldiers for the shooting death of an Afghan man, despite the fact they had been exonerated by military authorities, the Times said.