An Australian veteran charged with war crimes in Afghanistan stated his intention to defend himself against the charges. He was granted bail following his arrest on five counts of war crime murder.

An Australian former soldier charged with committing war crimes in Afghanistan vowed on Sunday to clear his name, saying he had never "run from a fight" in his first public comments since his arrest. Ben Roberts-Smith was granted bail on Friday after a high-profile arrest on five counts of "war crime murder". Police alleged he was complicit in a string of unlawful killings between 2009 and 2012 in Afghanistan.