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'Scores die' in Afghan explosion Many die in Afghan tanker blasts
(11 minutes later)
At least 90 people have been killed after Nato air strike blew up a fuel tanker 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 airstrike happened in Kunduz province on the main road to Baghlan. Nato confirmed to the BBC that an air strike happened in Kunduz province on the main road to Baghlan.
The governor of Kunduz told the BBC at least two tankers which were full of jet fuel had been hijacked. The governor of Kunduz told the BBC senior Taliban commanders were killed. Witnesses said villagers also died.
He said senior Taliban commanders were killed. Witnesses said villagers scavenging for fuel also died. A spokesman for the Nato-led coalition said it was investigating reports of civilian deaths.
District police chief Basharyar Parwani told AFP news agency that Taliban insurgents tried to drive away a tanker that they hijacked on a highway. The International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) spokesman in Kabul told the BBC two fuel tankers had been stolen on Thursday night.
"The fuel tanker got stuck in the river. There were local civilians with them as well. The Taliban were bombed," Mr Parwani said. Isaf forces saw the tankers on the banks of the Kunduz river and the local Isaf commander ordered an air strike in which both tankers were destroyed, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said a number of "insurgents" were killed.
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, although other sources says many villagers had been killed while collecting fuel from the tankers. Kunduz province Governor Mohammad Omar said most of the dead were Taliban fighters, 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 fuelRush for fuel
Witness Mohammad Daud, 32, told AFP that the militants had been trying to transport the tankers across a river to villages in Angorbagh.Witness Mohammad Daud, 32, told AFP that 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 called 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.


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