US names Afghan killings suspect.

The US soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians in a massacre that has undermined relations with Kabul has been named as Staff Sgt Robert Bales, BBC reported.

Senior US officials told the BBC the name of the suspect as he was heading back to the US to face charges.

He has now arrived at a maximum security military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, after being flown from Kuwait, the US Army said.

He will be held in solitary confinement pending charges, the Army added.

Sgt Bales' lawyer, John Henry Browne, said he had been injured twice while serving in Iraq.

Mr Browne also said the accused, aged 38, had witnessed his friend's leg blown off the day before the killings.

That incident has not been confirmed by the US Army.

The Taliban called off peace talks in the wake of Sunday's deadly rampage - in which men, women and children were shot and killed at close range.

The US has stressed it remained committed to Afghan reconciliation.