The March 11 massacre has sparked calls for revenge and harsh justice.

"We demand from the court in the United States to give the death penalty to the U.S soldier who massacred the civilians, because he deserves hanging, because he committed the biggest crime. We want a punishment based on Islamic sharia law."

The case has raised tensions between the U.S. and Afghan governments.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has demanded that U.S. troops - scheduled to be in his country for two more years - stay out of Afghan villages.

For now, Bales is at a military prison in the U.S. state of Kansas, awaiting word on his fate.