The American soldier charged with killing 16 Afghan civilians during night raids on two villages last year has pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty.

The wife of the US soldier accused of massacring 17 Afghans has defended him as a loving family man.

US Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales will be charged with 17 counts of murder, assault and a string of other offences in the massacre of Afghan villagers as they slept, a US official said.

A US Army Staff Sergeant accused of slaughtering 16 Afghan civilians in a night-time shooting spree remembers little about the incident, his lawyer has said.