Washington  - Eight security guards at the US embassy in Kabul have been fired in a hazing scandal and two others have resigned, the US State Department said Friday.

The State Department has asked the ArmorGroup, the private firm that employed the guards under a contract to protect the embassy, to replace its senior management team in Kabul, spokesman Ian Kelly said.

"We did ask the ArmorGroup to remove all personnel involved in these disgusting events that you've seen in the photos," he said.

The scandal emerged earlier this week when a Washington-based watchdog group, the Project on Government Oversight, released a report of hazing against younger guards accompanied by lewd photos and other allegations.

The State Department is investigated the conduct of ArmorGroup personnel in Afghanistan and whether the department was providing adequate oversight of the firm, Kelly said, adding that 120 interviews have already taken place.

When asked whether ArmorGroup will lose its contract in Afghanistan, Kelly replied "that may be the end result" of the investigation. dpa