Don't rush to judge Afghan role: PM

SYDNEY (AAP) - Prime Minister Julia Gillard has urged the public not to make hasty judgments about the nation's role in Afghanistan after an Australian soldier was killed by his Afghan comrade.
It was revealed early on Tuesday morning that an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier had shot dead his Australian mentor, Lance Corporal Andrew Jones, as they carried out guard duty, before running away.
Only hours later, Lieutenant Marcus Case died after the Chinook helicopter he was in crashed while on a resupply mission.
Ms Gillard acknowledged many people would feel angry about the shooting in particular, but asked them to reserve judgment until the circumstances around the soldier's death became clear.
"As people go through those emotions, what I would say to the Australian community is that we do need to fully investigate this incident before we draw conclusions and before we start speculating about what this means," she told parliament.
Backing Australia's involvement in Afghanistan, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said casualties were inevitable.
"There will be a time to consider the circumstances under which these deaths have taken place, to draw the appropriate conclusions," he said, urging restraint.
Ms Gillard earlier told reporters that Australia had a strong and professional relationship with the ANA.
"We have trained and mentored hundreds and hundreds of Fourth Brigade soldiers... and they are becoming a more capable and professional force," she said.
"This work is vital to our mission in Afghanistan, indeed we cannot succeed in that mission without doing this training."
American and British troops have lost their lives in similar circumstances while serving in Afghanistan.
Defence force chief Angus Houston said the "disturbing" incident and its implications were being thoroughly examined.
"We're obviously going to take a very close look how this occurred, why this occurred and what, if anything, could have been done to prevent it," he said.
"This incident is obviously going to quite rightly raise some very serious questions about the security measures we have in place."
Air Chief Marshal Houston said although biometric data was gathered on ANA soldiers, Australian troops were always on the lookout for any recruits who behaved in a "strange way".
He rejected suggestions Lance Corporal Jones' shooting by the "rogue" soldier, who still hasn't been caught, was accidental.
"The fact that multiple shots were fired suggests it was more than that," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.
He maintained Australians in the mentoring taskforce were committed to their job of training the ANA.
"They will be experiencing myriad emotions, grief and anger amongst them," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.
"I also know... they will not want this terrible incident to damage the outstanding progress made by many rotations of mentors and their Afghan partners."
Lance Corporal Jones, 25, was born in Melbourne and served as part of 9th Force Support Battalion in Amberley, Queensland.
He joined the Australian Army seven years ago, and had helped his state's recent flood victims and the people of East Timor.
Lance Corporal Jones is survived by his parents, two younger siblings and girlfriend.
Lieutenant Case, 27, was from the Sydney-based 6th Aviation Regiment and on his first deployment to Afghanistan.
He is survived by his parents and five siblings.
Five other soldiers injured in the helicopter crash are receiving medical care and remain in a satisfactory condition.