4 Afghan civilians accidentally killed. Maybe more? - 9 more Afghan police killed in airstrike

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http://www.suntimes.com/news/world/1065311,nato072008.a...

July 20, 2008Recommend (1)

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

KABUL, Afghanistan---- NATO said Sunday that its forces accidentally killed at least four civilians in eastern Afghanistan, while an official in the nation's west said foreign troops used airstrikes on Afghan police, killing nine.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense said Afghan soldiers battled insurgents in southern Zabul province, killing nine militants and wounding seven Saturday.

The reported civilian and police deaths could hurt popular support for the Afghan government as well as foreign forces operating here. President Hamid Karzai has pleaded with the U.S. and other nations fighting resurgent militants to avoid civilian casualties.

In a statement, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said it was investigating whether three other civilians also were killed Saturday night in the Barmal district of Paktika province when its troops fired two mortar rounds that landed nearly a half mile short of their target.