U.S. pays Afghans 'blood money'

Family's of those killed in the shooting spree by an American soldier were paid $50,000 each and wounded persons were paid $11,000, reported the Salt Lake Tribune.

This sort of payment is common in order to settle disputes from deaths in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, 38, was charged by the U.S. military with 17 counts of premeditated murder. Officials told relatives of those killed that the investigation would be thorough and said some might be asked to travel to the United States for the trial, reported the Washington Post.

"The victims' families said that by accepting the money, it didn't mean that they forgave the killer," Esaqzai told the Washington Post.