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Nato confirms Afghan raid deaths Nato confirms Afghan raid deaths
(40 minutes later)
Nato has confirmed that civilians were killed in an air strike it carried out in southern Afghanistan earlier this week. Nato has confirmed that at least 12 civilians were killed in an air strike targeting Taleban militants in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday.
"We can confirm at least 12 deaths and we are working with the Afghan ministry of defence to conduct further investigations," a spokesman said. Afghan reports suggest a nomad camp was hit in Kandahar Province's Panjawai area and at least 40 civilians died.
Locals say at least 60 people were killed in the bombing raid in Kandahar province late on Tuesday. A team of tribal and community elders will hold an inquiry, Afghan President Hamid Karzai's office said.
The UN mission in Afghanistan says it is seriously concerned by the incident. Nato has said 48 Taleban fighters were killed in three raids, but the Taleban have denied losing any men.
Nato said that 48 Taleban fighters were killed in three raids by its forces. Local police and officials confirmed more than 40 people were killed in a Nato raid, Afghan interior ministry spokesman Zmarai Bashiry told the BBC.
The Nato spokesman, Captain Andre Salloum, told AFP news agency: "As soon as the battle ended, troops on the ground were able to identify 12 civilians."
Earlier, another Nato spokesman, Mark Laity, said: "We've got tight rules of engagement but sometimes things go wrong... President Karzai quite understandably and correctly wants us to show maximum care - that's what we do.
"If there are things that went on we'll obviously apologise, we'll obviously also review our own procedures to make sure they are absolutely correct as they can be."
Nato and the Afghan government is conducting a separate investigation into what was targeted and who was killed in the operations in Kandahar.
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 local officials put the death toll at between 60 and 85.Other local officials put the death toll at between 60 and 85.
'See our situation' One Afghan survivor told the BBC that those attacked were nomads who had been living outside a village in tents.
Villagers in Panjwayi district, southern Kandahar, say the bombing began on Tuesday and continued into the night. 'Things go wrong'
Nato forces are the main component in Isaf, the international force deployed in Afghanistan.
A spokesman, Capt Andre Salloum, told AFP news agency:
"As soon as the battle ended, troops on the ground were able to identify 12 civilians."
Nato forces were working with the Afghan defence ministry to conduct further investigations, he added.
Another Nato spokesman, Mark Laity, said the troops sought to take maximum care to avoid civilian casualties.
"We've got tight rules of engagement but sometimes things go wrong..." he said.
"President Karzai quite understandably and correctly wants us to show maximum care - that's what we do."
Deadly 'mistakes'
Residents in Panjwayi say the bombing began on Tuesday and continued into the night.
Nato says it routed the Taleban in battles in September
Local people as well as district officials have described buildings destroyed by aerial bombings during the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan.Local people as well as district officials have described buildings destroyed by aerial bombings during the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan.
"The planes came and were bombing until 3am. And, in the morning, they started hitting our village with mortars and rockets. They didn't allow anybody to come to our help," one man said. "The planes came and were bombing 3 AM," one man said.
Nato says it routed the Taleban in battles in SeptemberVillagers told the BBC Pashto service that the bodies of many locals had been pulled from the rubble of their homes and buried. "And, in the morning, they started hitting our village with mortars and rockets. They didn't allow anybody to come to our help."
"Twenty members of my family are killed and 10 are injured," one survivor said. People told the BBC that the bodies of many locals had been pulled from the rubble of their homes and buried.
"The injured are in Mirwais hospital in Kandahar city and anybody can go and see them. For God's sake, come and see our situation." One local man who did not want to reveal his name said 20 members of his family had been killed and 10 injured.
A statement from President Hamid Karzai said an eight-member team of tribal and community elders would investigate the reported civilian casualties. He said that a nomad camp with no connection to the Taleban had been attacked:
The elders would also make suggestions on how to prevent such "unfortunate" incidents in future and ensure better co-ordination with foreign forces. "There are no Taleban here. We live outside the village in an open area in tents.
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. "Anyone can come here to see our homes and area. There are no Taleban here. We all are nomads living in tents.
"Each time they say that it was a mistake. They have destroyed us all in such mistakes. For God's sake, come and see our situation."
Karzai under pressure
President Karzai's office said his investigators would make suggestions on how to prevent such "unfortunate" incidents in future and ensure better co-ordination with foreign forces.
Mr Karzai has been under mounting pressure over civilian deaths and has urged foreign forces to exercise more caution.Mr Karzai has been under mounting pressure over civilian deaths 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.
Hundreds of people have been killed in Afghanistan this year, the bloodiest since the Taleban were removed from power by US-led forces in 2001.Hundreds of people have been killed in Afghanistan this year, the bloodiest since the Taleban were removed from power by US-led forces in 2001.
The UN mission in Afghanistan has voiced serious concern about the Panjwayi deaths.