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| Many die in Afghan tanker blasts | Many die in Afghan tanker blasts |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Scores of people are reported killed after a Nato air strike blew up two fuel tankers hijacked by the Taliban in northern Afghanistan. | |
| The governor of Kunduz province told the BBC that Taliban leaders were among at least 90 killed. Witnesses said locals extracting fuel also died. | |
| Nato said its commanders believed that only insurgents were in the vicinity. | |
| But Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said reports of civilian deaths were being investigated. | |
| The Taliban confirmed to the BBC that they had stolen the tankers, one of which became stuck at a river crossing. | |
| 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 Taliban spokesman said it was decided to empty the tankers and local people arrived to take some of the fuel. | |
| At this point, a Nato air strike hit the tankers causing a huge explosion, he said. | |
| The Nato attack occurred about 7km (four miles) south-west of Kunduz city at about 0200 Friday (2130 Thursday GMT). | |
| 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. |
| Isaf spokesman spokesman Eric Tremblay tells how militants hijacked the trucks | |
| 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. |
| There are many seriously burned people in 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. |
| 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 In pictures: Afghan tanker strike Limited time for Afghan success Taliban infiltrate Afghan north | |
| "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. | 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. | "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." | "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 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. | "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 |