|
Friday, November 21, 2008
|
|
|
|
Temp:
|
1°C
|
|
Feels like:
|
-2°C
|
|
Humidity:
|
81%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
UN accuses US-led troops of killing 90 civilians in raid on village |
|
|
|
Written by Fisnik Abrashi, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
|
|
Friday, 29 August 2008 |
Related Items
No keywords found
KABUL - There is "convincing evidence" that U.S.-led coalition troops and Afghan forces killed some 90 civilians in air strikes in western Afghanistan last week, the United Nations said Tuesday.
A UN statement, citing the testimony of eyewitnesses and others, said 60 children, along with 15 women and 15 men, died in the attack. "Fifteen other villagers were wounded or otherwise injured," the UN said.
The UN said it based its findings on the testimony of villagers and from meetings with Afghan officials. It did not provide photos or evidence that its investigators saw any graves.
U.S.-led coalition troops, who were supporting Afghan commandos during the raid last Friday in the village of Azizabad in Herat province, said they believe that 25 rebels, including a Taliban commander and five civilians, were killed.
The coalition commander in Afghanistan ordered an investigation following complaints from locals and the Afghan government about civilian casualties in the raid.
President Hamid Karzai, in a harshly worded statement, ordered its ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence to regulate the presence of foreign troops and try to negotiate an end to "air strikes on civilian targets, unco-ordinated house searches and illegal detention of Afghan civilians."
Karzai's statement appeared to be aimed at both at the U.S.-led coalition, which conducts special forces operations and trains the fledgling Afghan army and police, and the UN-mandated NATO-led force in Afghanistan.
Karzai's spokesman, Humayun Hamidzada, said Tuesday that the decision was made after Afghan officials "lost patience" with foreign forces.
"We do not want international forces to leave Afghanistan until the time our security institutions are able to defend Afghanistan independently," Hamidzada told reporters Tuesday.
But the presence of those forces has to be based "within the framework of Afghan law with respect to international law," Hamidzada said.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto told reporters Monday that foreign forces in Afghanistan "take every precaution to try to avoid innocent civilian casualties."
Asked about Karzai's concerns about civilian casualties, Fratto said an investigation was under way. He said the U.S. Defence Department believes "it was a good strike."
Capt. Mike Windsor, a spokesman for the NATO-led force, said the force had seen media reports about the government's decision but had not received "any official notification so far."
NATO and U.S. officials insist that they take great care in their targeting, but complain the insurgents often hide in civilian areas.
 |
|
|
Who's Online
We have 32 guests and 1 member online
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
