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Merkel regrets Afghan raid deaths Merkel regrets Afghan raid deaths
(about 1 hour later)
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel says she "deeply regrets" any loss of innocent life, after civilians were killed in an air strike in Afghanistan.Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel says she "deeply regrets" any loss of innocent life, after civilians were killed in an air strike in Afghanistan.
But Mrs Merkel told parliament that Germany's mission in Afghanistan remained necessary.But Mrs Merkel told parliament that Germany's mission in Afghanistan remained necessary.
There has been heavy criticism of the strike, ordered by a German commander.There has been heavy criticism of the strike, ordered by a German commander.
The chief of international forces in Afghanistan, US General Stanley McChrystal, has visited the scene and concluded that civilians were killed.The chief of international forces in Afghanistan, US General Stanley McChrystal, has visited the scene and concluded that civilians were killed.
Gen McChrystal made an Afghan TV address promising a full investigation into the incident and stating that "nothing is more important than the safety and protection of the Afghan people". The incident happened on Friday, when US jets, responding to a German request, bombed two oil tankers that had been hijacked by the Taliban. Many people nearby were killed.
Gen McChrystal has made avoiding civilian deaths a priority since taking over the alliance's Afghan campaign. Unpopular mission
Mrs Merkel said in a speech to parliament on Tuesday: "Every innocent person killed in Afghanistan is one too many.Mrs Merkel said in a speech to parliament on Tuesday: "Every innocent person killed in Afghanistan is one too many.
"Any innocent person killed or hurt, including through German actions, I deeply regret.""Any innocent person killed or hurt, including through German actions, I deeply regret."
"It is important to me as German chancellor to express this today, and to the Afghan people, and I think I say this in all your names," Mrs Merkel told MPs."It is important to me as German chancellor to express this today, and to the Afghan people, and I think I say this in all your names," Mrs Merkel told MPs.
What an error of judgment! Why didn't they send in ground troops? Hamid KarzaiAfghan president Eyewitness: 'Anger in Kunduz' Germans question Afghan war
She promised a thorough investigation and said: "I will ensure that we will not put a gloss on anything."She promised a thorough investigation and said: "I will ensure that we will not put a gloss on anything."
Germany's mission in Afghanistan is opposed by many Germans, and the controversy has piled pressure on the government less than three weeks before general elections.
The independent Afghanistan Rights Monitor group says up to 70 civilians died in the raid, in Kunduz province.
Gen McChrystal made an Afghan TV address, promising a full investigation and stating that "nothing is more important than the safety and protection of the Afghan people".
Gen McChrystal has made avoiding civilian deaths a priority since taking over the alliance's Afghan campaign.
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Aftermath of the blast in Kunduz province
The Nato air strike targeted fuel tankers hijacked by the insurgents.
The German commander apparently feared they would be used to launch a suicide bombing on the German base nearby.
But at the time of the strike, the vehicles had apparently become stuck in a river bed. It is thought local people had gathered round, helping themselves to free fuel.
The air strike has caused strains between the German and US military, and was strongly criticised by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
"What an error of judgment! More than 90 dead all because of a simple lorry that was, moreover, immobilised in a riverbed. Why didn't they send in ground troops to recover the fuel tank?" he said in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro.
"General McChrystal telephoned me to apologise and to say that he himself hadn't given the order to attack," he added.
But German Defence Secretary Franz Josef Jung has defied calls to resign over the incident - the deadliest involving German troops since World War II - and a defence ministry spokesman insisted the decision to attack was "militarily necessary and correct".