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| Bowe Bergdahl: Town cancels welcome for freed US soldier | Bowe Bergdahl: Town cancels welcome for freed US soldier |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A welcoming party in the home town of a US soldier freed from Afghan captivity has been cancelled, amid suspicions that he deserted his post. | A welcoming party in the home town of a US soldier freed from Afghan captivity has been cancelled, amid suspicions that he deserted his post. |
| Organisers said the event in Hailey, Idaho, was cancelled for safety reasons, because of a large increase in the number of expected attendees. | Organisers said the event in Hailey, Idaho, was cancelled for safety reasons, because of a large increase in the number of expected attendees. |
| Bowe Bergdahl was released on Saturday after five years in Taliban captivity. | Bowe Bergdahl was released on Saturday after five years in Taliban captivity. |
| Several commentators and soldiers have branded him a deserter and called for him to be punished. | Several commentators and soldiers have branded him a deserter and called for him to be punished. |
| The circumstances of Sgt Bergdahl's capture in 2009 remain unclear, although the Pentagon has concluded he left his post in Paktika Province without authorisation. | The circumstances of Sgt Bergdahl's capture in 2009 remain unclear, although the Pentagon has concluded he left his post in Paktika Province without authorisation. |
| The town's annual "Bring Bowe Back" rally, calling for Sgt Bergdahl's release, was already scheduled for 28 June, but was changed to a homecoming party after he was freed on Saturday. | The town's annual "Bring Bowe Back" rally, calling for Sgt Bergdahl's release, was already scheduled for 28 June, but was changed to a homecoming party after he was freed on Saturday. |
| 'Uncertainty' | |
| But in a statement on Wednesday, the town authorities said organisers expected a dramatic increase in attendance because of national media attention. | But in a statement on Wednesday, the town authorities said organisers expected a dramatic increase in attendance because of national media attention. |
| "In the interest of public safety, the event will be cancelled", the statement said. | "In the interest of public safety, the event will be cancelled", the statement said. |
| Authorities in the small town of 8,000 people said they had been inundated with messages of protest and complaint. | Authorities in the small town of 8,000 people said they had been inundated with messages of protest and complaint. |
| Police Chief Jeff Gunter told Reuters he received a phone call from a fellow police chief in Tennessee asking him: "'What the hell's your problem for supporting this deserter?'" | Police Chief Jeff Gunter told Reuters he received a phone call from a fellow police chief in Tennessee asking him: "'What the hell's your problem for supporting this deserter?'" |
| Joel Robinson, a volunteer chaplain with an organisation that supported the Bergdahl family told the BBC he was disappointed the event was cancelled, but "I can understand with the high level of uncertainty". | Joel Robinson, a volunteer chaplain with an organisation that supported the Bergdahl family told the BBC he was disappointed the event was cancelled, but "I can understand with the high level of uncertainty". |
| Mr Robinson said he had "no preconceived notion of guilt or innocence" about Sgt Bergdahl. | Mr Robinson said he had "no preconceived notion of guilt or innocence" about Sgt Bergdahl. |
| "I will wait for the judicial process to take its course. I wish other people would, too." | "I will wait for the judicial process to take its course. I wish other people would, too." |
| The release of Sgt Bergdahl in exchange for five senior Taliban figures from Guantanamo Bay has caused controversy in the US. | The release of Sgt Bergdahl in exchange for five senior Taliban figures from Guantanamo Bay has caused controversy in the US. |
| Critics of the deal have alleged that six US soldiers were killed in the initial efforts to locate the missing man. | Critics of the deal have alleged that six US soldiers were killed in the initial efforts to locate the missing man. |
| The US Army has confirmed it will launch a review into the circumstances surrounding Sgt Bergdahl's capture in June 2009. | The US Army has confirmed it will launch a review into the circumstances surrounding Sgt Bergdahl's capture in June 2009. |
| The US military's top-ranking officer, Gen Martin Dempsey, said on Tuesday that the Army would not ignore misconduct but that the 28-year-old was "innocent until proven guilty". | The US military's top-ranking officer, Gen Martin Dempsey, said on Tuesday that the Army would not ignore misconduct but that the 28-year-old was "innocent until proven guilty". |
| "When he is able to provide the facts, we'll learn what happened," he said. | "When he is able to provide the facts, we'll learn what happened," he said. |
| President Barack Obama defended his decision to go ahead with the prisoner swap, saying America had a "pretty sacred rule" not to leave soldiers behind. | President Barack Obama defended his decision to go ahead with the prisoner swap, saying America had a "pretty sacred rule" not to leave soldiers behind. |
| The soldier is currently in a military hospital in Germany undergoing rehabilitation. It is not yet known when he will return to the US. | The soldier is currently in a military hospital in Germany undergoing rehabilitation. It is not yet known when he will return to the US. |