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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. |
| A Nato spokesman confirmed that the incident happened in Kunduz province. | |
| Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen promised a full investigation into 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. | 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. | The tankers are reported to have been bombed about 7km (four miles) south-west of Kunduz city. |
| International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) spokeswoman Lt Cdr Christine Sidenstricker said Afghan forces had reported the fuel trucks hijacked and Nato aircraft had spotted them on a river bank. | International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) spokeswoman Lt Cdr Christine Sidenstricker said Afghan forces had reported the fuel trucks hijacked and Nato aircraft had spotted them on a river bank. |
| "After observing that only insurgents were in the area, the local Isaf commander ordered air strikes which destroyed the fuel trucks and killed a large number of insurgents," she said. | "After observing that only insurgents were in the area, the local Isaf commander ordered air strikes which destroyed the fuel trucks and killed a large number of insurgents," she said. |
| "The strike was against insurgents. That is who we believe was killed." | "The strike was against insurgents. That is who we believe was killed." |
| But, she added, reports of civilian deaths were being investigated. | But, she added, reports of civilian deaths were being investigated. |
| 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. | 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. |
| RECENT MAJOR ATTACKS 2 Sep: Blast in Laghman province kills Afghan deputy chief of intelligence and 21 others25 Aug: Car bomb in southern city of Kandahar kills at least 4018 Aug: Nine Afghans and a Nato soldier die and more than 50 are injured in Kabul15 Aug: Bomb outside Nato HQ in Kabul kills seven and injures 9013 Aug: Twin blasts in Helmand and Kandahar kill 14, including several children6 Aug: Five American and three UK soldiers, five civilians and five policemen killed by roadside bombs mainly in Helmand3 Aug: Bomb in Herat city kills 12 href="/2/hi/south_asia/8238054.stm">In pictures: Afghan tanker strike class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/8237238.stm">Limited time for Afghan success Taliban infiltrate Afghan north | |
| Seriously burned people are crowding a hospital in Kunduz, AFP reported. | Seriously burned people are crowding a hospital in Kunduz, AFP reported. |
| Witness Mohammad Daud, 32, told AFP the militants had been trying to transport the tankers across a river to villages in Angorbagh. | 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." |
| Mr Rasmussen said the leader of international troops in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, had told President Hamid Karzai he was committed to investigating the incident. | |
| "It is really a focal point for our Isaf troops to minimise the number of civilian casualties, and a new strategy to that end has already been introduced," he said. | |
| "Civilian casualties caused by Isaf are down over 95% from last year's levels. But, as we all know, in conflicts like these, mistakes can happen. In this case, let us now see what the investigation concludes." | |
| The incident came days after Gen McChrystal 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," he wrote in a strategic assessment. | |
| 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 |