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| Many die in Afghan tanker blasts | Many die in Afghan tanker blasts |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 90 people have been killed after a Nato air strike blew up two fuel tankers hijacked by the Taliban in northern Afghanistan, officials say. | At least 90 people have been killed after a Nato air strike blew up two fuel tankers hijacked by the Taliban in northern Afghanistan, officials say. |
| Nato confirmed to the BBC that the incident happened in Kunduz province on the main road to Baghlan. | |
| A spokesman said it was investigating reports of civilian deaths. | |
| The governor of Kunduz told the BBC that senior Taliban commanders were killed in the huge blast. Witnesses said villagers also died. | |
| A Taliban spokesman confirmed to the BBC that its fighters had stolen two Nato fuel tankers on Thursday night, which then got stuck, although he did not say how. | A Taliban spokesman confirmed to the BBC that its fighters had stolen two Nato fuel tankers on Thursday night, which then got stuck, although he did not say how. |
| The Taliban decided to empty the tankers and local people arrived to take some of the fuel, he said. | The Taliban decided to empty the tankers and local people arrived to take some of the fuel, he said. |
| At this point, a Nato air strike hit the tankers causing a huge explosion. | At this point, a Nato air strike hit the tankers causing a huge explosion. |
| ANALYSIS Chris Morris, BBC News, Afghanistan | ANALYSIS Chris Morris, BBC News, Afghanistan |
| If it emerges that a number of civilians have been killed then that will obviously be very disappointing to Nato. | If it emerges that a number of civilians have been killed then that will obviously be very disappointing to Nato. |
| The issue of civilian casualties caused by international military action is extremely sensitive here. It has caused great anger. | The issue of civilian casualties caused by international military action is extremely sensitive here. It has caused great anger. |
| It is something military commanders have said they are determined to clamp down on, because they say if they win territory and not the people then they are not doing their job. | It is something military commanders have said they are determined to clamp down on, because they say if they win territory and not the people then they are not doing their job. |
| The tankers are reported to have been bombed about 7km (four miles) south-west of Kunduz city. | |
| An International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) spokesman in Kabul told the BBC that Isaf forces had spotted the hijacked tankers on the banks of the Kunduz river and the local commander ordered an air strike in which both tankers were destroyed. | |
| The spokesman said a number of "insurgents" were killed. | The spokesman said a number of "insurgents" were killed. |
| Isaf spokeswoman Capt Elizabeth Matthias also told the BBC that the commander decided to conduct the air strike in conjunction with Afghan forces. | |
| "It was the Afghan forces who had noted the insurgents' activity earlier in the evening," she said. | |
| One of the drivers of the tankers told the BBC that two of his colleagues had been beheaded when the Taliban carried out the hijacking. | One of the drivers of the tankers told the BBC that two of his colleagues had been beheaded when the Taliban carried out the hijacking. |
| Kunduz province Governor Mohammad Omar said most of the dead were Taliban fighters - some of whom were Chechens - although other sources say many villagers had been killed while collecting fuel from the tankers. | |
| Seriously burned people are crowding a hospital in Kunduz, AFP reported. | Seriously burned people are crowding a hospital in Kunduz, AFP reported. |
| Rush for fuel | Rush for fuel |
| Witness Mohammad Daud, 32, told AFP the militants had been trying to transport the tankers across a river to villages in Angorbagh. | |
| "They managed to take one of the tankers over the river. The second got stuck so they told villagers to come and take the diesel," he said. | "They managed to take one of the tankers over the river. The second got stuck so they told villagers to come and take the diesel," he said. |
| "Villagers rushed to the fuel tanker with any available container that they had, including water buckets and pots for cooking oil. | "Villagers rushed to the fuel tanker with any available container that they had, including water buckets and pots for cooking oil. |
| "There were 10 to 15 Taliban on top of the tanker. This was when they were bombed. Everyone around the fuel tanker died." | "There were 10 to 15 Taliban on top of the tanker. This was when they were bombed. Everyone around the fuel tanker died." |
| The incident came days after the top US general in Afghanistan reiterated calls for a fresh approach to the conflict. | The incident came days after the top US general in Afghanistan reiterated calls for a fresh approach to the conflict. |
| "The situation in Afghanistan is serious, but success is achievable and demands a revised implementation strategy, commitment and resolve, and increased unity of effort," Gen Stanley McChrystal wrote. | "The situation in Afghanistan is serious, but success is achievable and demands a revised implementation strategy, commitment and resolve, and increased unity of effort," Gen Stanley McChrystal wrote. |
| Are you in the area? Did you see the blast? Tell us about what you have seen by filling in the form below. | Are you in the area? Did you see the blast? Tell us about what you have seen by filling in the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |