US general sacked after slamming Afghan leaders

WASHINGTON: A US general has been sacked after slamming Afghan leaders as out of touch and ungrateful for American support in an interview, NATO and the US military said Friday.

Major General Peter Fuller, deputy commander of the NATO training mission in Afghanistan for allied forces, has been relieved "effective immediately" a day after the publication of his "inappropriate public comments," the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.

"These unfortunate comments are neither indicative of our current solid relationship with the government of Afghanistan, its leadership, or our joint commitment to prevail here in Afghanistan," said the commander of US and NATO troops in Afghanistan, US General John Allen.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta fully backed the decision, spokesman Captain John Kirby told AFP.