Taliban link killing of 2 US marines in Afghanistan to anti-Islam film

Afghanistan's Taliban claimed responsibility on Saturday for an attack on a base which US officials said killed two American Marines, saying it was in response to a film that insults the Prophet Mohammad.

Camp Bastion, in southern Helmand province, came under mortar, rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire late on Friday.

The assault also wounded several servicemen.

The aim of this attack was revenge against Americans for the anti-Prophet movie, said Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf.

US President Barack Obama has vowed to stand fast against violence which has been spreading since the amateurish film of obscure origin triggered an attack on the U.S. consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi that killed the ambassador and three other Americans on Sept. 11.

Britain's Prince Harry was at Camp Bastion at the time of the attack, but was unharmed.

Earlier this week, the Afghan Taliban said they were doing everything in their power to either kill or kidnap Queen Elizabeth's grandson in what they dubbed their Harry Operations.

Prince Harry was never in any danger, Martyn Crighton, a spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), said, adding that it would investigate whether his presence on the base had motivated the attack.

ISAF has not confirmed the nationality of the two people killed in the attack on the base.

A spokesman for the Helmand governor said 17 bodies had been discovered and they were all thought to be insurgents killed in the fighting.

ALSO READ

Najib Razak sworn-in as Malaysia's PM, opposition cries foul

14 killed in Bangladesh violence

Syrian civil war: Israeli PM visits China after Syria strikes

US horrified by reports of Syria massacre