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'Afghans killed' in Nato strikes 'Afghans killed' in Nato strikes
(about 2 hours later)
At least eight Afghan civilians have been killed and nine wounded in Nato air strikes in the southern Kandahar Province, the regional governor said. Up to 21 civilians have died during two Nato operations, Afghan reports say.
The dead included women and children, Governor Asadullah Khalid, adding that the strike had targeted three compounds in the Zhari district. Eight Afghan civilians have been killed in Nato air strikes in Kandahar province, the regional governor said.
An unknown number of Taleban militants were also reported killed. In Helmand, the police chief said some civilians had died during clashes, but did not confirm reports that 13 people had died when a rocket hit their home.
In a statement, Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said it regretted any civilian casualties. Nato's force in Afghanistan said civilians had died in Kandahar. UK forces said the house bombed in Helmand had been clear of civilians.
Isaf said it makes "every effort" to minimise the risk of collateral damage during its operations. In Kandahar, the dead included women and children, said Governor Asadullah Khalid, adding that the strike had targeted three compounds in the Zhari district.
Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said civilians had been killed during an air strike in Kandahar province, but would not give a figure.
Taleban base
Isaf expressed "deep regret" over the deaths of civilians and said it made "every effort to minimise the risk of collateral damage during its operations".
The 37-nation alliance said the purpose of the strikes was to detain people involved in recent roadside bomb attacks in Panjwayi, which borders Zhari.The 37-nation alliance said the purpose of the strikes was to detain people involved in recent roadside bomb attacks in Panjwayi, which borders Zhari.
"Close air support was used in support of the operation, and it is believed that the air attack caused several civilian casualties along with an unknown number of insurgent casualties," Isaf said in a statement. International troops have a visible presence in Kandahar"Close air support was used in support of the operation, and it is believed that the air attack caused several civilian casualties along with an unknown number of insurgent casualties," Isaf said in a statement.
The Isaf commander in the south of the country, Canadian Brig Gen David Fraser, has spoken with the governor about the operation, the statement said.The Isaf commander in the south of the country, Canadian Brig Gen David Fraser, has spoken with the governor about the operation, the statement said.
In Helmand, residents said 13 villagers, including women and children, had died when a rocket hit their house during a night-time clash between suspected Taliban insurgents and Nato and Afghan security forces in the province's Grishk district.
A spokesman for the UK forces which operate in Helmand said a house had been bombed, but only after it had been established that Taleban fighters were using it as a base and it was clear of civilians.
There have been a series of reports of civilian casualties over the past few months during an intense period of fighting.