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Afghan bombing: Kunduz MSF clinic workers killed | Afghan bombing: Kunduz MSF clinic workers killed |
(35 minutes later) | |
A clinic has been bombarded in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, killing three MSF aid workers, with Nato investigating whether it was behind it. | |
The medical charity says 30 people were also unaccounted for. There is no word on the nationalities of the victims. | |
A Nato statement said a US air strike "may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility". | |
The Taliban has clashed with government troops since its militants seized the northern city earlier this week. | The Taliban has clashed with government troops since its militants seized the northern city earlier this week. |
Kunduz was the first major urban centre to fall to the Taliban in 14 years. | Kunduz was the first major urban centre to fall to the Taliban in 14 years. |
'Deeply shocked' | |
The medical clinic run by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) was hit several times during "sustained bombing and was very badly damaged" at 02:10 local time (22:40 GMT) on Saturday, it said in a statement. | |
A statement from Nato said: "US forces conducted an air strike in Kunduz city at 02:15 (local time)... against individuals threatening the force". But, it continues, the strike may have caused damage to a nearby medical facility. | A statement from Nato said: "US forces conducted an air strike in Kunduz city at 02:15 (local time)... against individuals threatening the force". But, it continues, the strike may have caused damage to a nearby medical facility. |
Nato says it is investigating. | Nato says it is investigating. |
MSF director of operations Bart Janssens said: "We are deeply shocked by the attack, the killing of our staff and patients and the heavy toll it has inflicted on healthcare in Kunduz." | MSF director of operations Bart Janssens said: "We are deeply shocked by the attack, the killing of our staff and patients and the heavy toll it has inflicted on healthcare in Kunduz." |
The charity says it does not have final figures. However, it says when the bombardment took place, there were more than 180 people in the clinic, including patients and staff. | |
It is the only medical facility of its kind in the north-east of Afghanistan. | |
Nato planes have been backing government efforts to retake Kunduz in recent days. | |
Many Taliban fighters have been pushed back to the outskirts, but fierce battles are continuing near the airport. | Many Taliban fighters have been pushed back to the outskirts, but fierce battles are continuing near the airport. |
Afghan officials said the government had regained control of the city on Friday, but the Taliban denied the city had been retaken. | |
Kunduz, with a population of around 300,000, is one of Afghanistan's largest cities and strategically important both as a transport hub and a bread-basket for the region. |