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'Civilians killed' in Nato raids | 'Civilians killed' in Nato raids |
(30 minutes later) | |
Scores of civilians have been killed during Nato operations against Taleban fighters in southern Afghanistan, local officials and civilians say. | Scores of civilians have been killed during Nato operations against Taleban fighters in southern Afghanistan, local officials and civilians say. |
Nato says it is helping Afghan defence officials investigate the reports in Panjwayi district of Kandahar province. | Nato says it is helping Afghan defence officials investigate the reports in Panjwayi district of Kandahar province. |
The alliance had "credible reports" of some civilian casualties, but could not confirm reports of 60 dead civilians. It said 48 militants had been killed. | The alliance had "credible reports" of some civilian casualties, but could not confirm reports of 60 dead civilians. It said 48 militants had been killed. |
In September Nato said it had routed the Taleban in the area. | In September Nato said it had routed the Taleban in the area. |
'Sorry not good enough' | 'Sorry not good enough' |
Reports from Panjwayi district say the Nato raids began on Tuesday and continued into the night in Kandahar province. | Reports from Panjwayi district say the Nato raids began on Tuesday and continued into the night in Kandahar province. |
If there are no Taleban, then why are they bombing the area? Bismallah Afghanmal, Kandahar councillor | |
They said that several houses were hit, and civilians killed. | They said that several houses were hit, and civilians killed. |
Villagers told the BBC Pashto service that the bodies of many locals had been pulled from the rubble of their homes after the raids and buried. | Villagers told the BBC Pashto service that the bodies of many locals had been pulled from the rubble of their homes after the raids and buried. |
Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Zmarai Bashiry told the BBC that local police and officials had confirmed more than 40 villagers killed in the Nato raids. | |
Other officials put the death toll higher. | |
Panjwayi district chief Niaz Mohammad Sarhadi told the AFP news agency he had reports that about 60 civilians had been killed in the aerial bombardment. | Panjwayi district chief Niaz Mohammad Sarhadi told the AFP news agency he had reports that about 60 civilians had been killed in the aerial bombardment. |
And Kandahar provincial council member Bismallah Afghanmal put the figure at more than 80. | |
"These kinds of things have happened several times, and they only say 'sorry'. How can you compensate people who have lost their sons and daughters?" | "These kinds of things have happened several times, and they only say 'sorry'. How can you compensate people who have lost their sons and daughters?" |
Houses were hit by Nato bombs elsewhere in the south last week | |
"The government and the coalition told the families that there are no Taleban in the area any more," he told the Associated Press news agency. | "The government and the coalition told the families that there are no Taleban in the area any more," he told the Associated Press news agency. |
"If there are no Taleban, then why are they bombing the area? | "If there are no Taleban, then why are they bombing the area? |
Last month, the alliance said it had killed more than 500 militants during Operation Medusa in Panjwayi district. | Last month, the alliance said it had killed more than 500 militants during Operation Medusa in Panjwayi district. |
'Human shields' | 'Human shields' |
A spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), Maj Luke Knittig, was unable to confirm the high death tolls. | A spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), Maj Luke Knittig, was unable to confirm the high death tolls. |
Nato says it routed the Taleban in battles in September | |
But he told reporters in Kabul: "Very sadly, civilians continue to get caught up in these engagements with tragic results. | But he told reporters in Kabul: "Very sadly, civilians continue to get caught up in these engagements with tragic results. |
"We are helping Afghan leaders there fly over the area to make an assessment," he added. | "We are helping Afghan leaders there fly over the area to make an assessment," he added. |
Nato spokesman Mark Laity told the same news briefing that Taleban fighters often used locals as "human shields", and the alliance made every effort to minimise civilian casualties. | Nato spokesman Mark Laity told the same news briefing that Taleban fighters often used locals as "human shields", and the alliance made every effort to minimise civilian casualties. |
Isaf said late on Wednesday that 48 had been killed in three separate engagements, including air strikes, which took place on Tuesday in Panjwayi district. | Isaf said late on Wednesday that 48 had been killed in three separate engagements, including air strikes, which took place on Tuesday in Panjwayi district. |
A Taleban statement sent to the BBC said none of the movement's fighters had been killed in the Panjwayi clashes, and that any deaths were civilian. | |
President Hamid Karzai has been under mounting pressure over the civilian death in the south and east, and has urged foreign forces to exercise more caution. | President Hamid Karzai has been under mounting pressure over the civilian death in the south and east, and has urged foreign forces to exercise more caution. |
Last week, up to 21 civilians were killed in two Nato operations in Kandahar and neighbouring Helmand province. | Last week, up to 21 civilians were killed in two Nato operations in Kandahar and neighbouring Helmand province. |
In July 2002, a US air strike in Uruzgan province left 46 civilians dead and wounded more than 100, many of whom had been at a wedding party. | In July 2002, a US air strike in Uruzgan province left 46 civilians dead and wounded more than 100, many of whom had been at a wedding party. |