U.S. embassy in Kabul fires guards for lewd acts [PHOTOS]

In a letter this week to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a group called the Project on Government Oversight said private guards from security firm ArmorGroup North America were staging abusive hazing rituals, jeopardising diplomats' safety.

Photos have since circulated on the internet showing guards in various states of undress, including some in which they grope each other naked and others in which they appear to drink vodka poured between each other's buttocks.

"Ten guards seen in the offensive photos are leaving the country today; eight were terminated and two resigned," the embassy said in a statement.

"The entire senior management team of ArmorGroup North America in Kabul is being replaced immediately. The embassy security office continues its interviews of every one of the ArmorGroup guards."

An embassy spokeswoman also said the guards had been banned from drinking alcohol at any time while in Afghanistan.