U.S. troops near Afghanistan shooting site "shocked"

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION).

STORY: U.S and Afghan forces in Kandahar province gather for an "operational meeting" two and a half weeks after 16 people were killed in the area when an American soldier went on a shooting rampage.

U.S. army Major Edward Choi told Reuters "we were shocked of the news but now I think that a lot of the soldiers have come to try to understand what has happened."

Colonel Todd R. Wood of the U.S. forces' Stryker unit said "everyone down here, regardless of what uniform he had on, was deeply troubled and touched by the tragic loss of the civilians. It is something that all of us have really felt just terrible about, along with the partners, along with the Afghans down here that we came here to protect and to help," Wood said.

Asked how the events of March 11 had influenced the local population and how they viewed the American military presence, Wood said "we still got villagers out there that will warn us as to a possible attack down this alley."

U.S. authorities have given cash compensation to the families of Afghans killed in the shooting rampage, according to a family member and a tribal elder.

The families received around $50,000 for each person killed and about $10,000 for each wounded in the shootings in two villages in Panjwai district earlier this month.

Afghan officials say 16 people, including nine children and women, were killed in the attacks.