NATO Convoy Ambushed in Afghanistan

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6617333,00.html

Tuesday May 8, 2007 5:31 PM


By NOOR KHAN

Associated Press Writer

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) - Suspected Taliban militants ambushed a NATO convoy in southern Afghanistan early Tuesday, and a gunshot victim said soldiers fleeing the scene shot him and killed a man in a bakery.

NATO said one civilian was killed and two wounded in the cross-fire after militants fired rocket-propelled grenades and guns as the convoy passed through a civilian area. NATO said soldiers returned fire, but did not specify if the casualties were caused by militants or soldiers.

Afghan officials have pleaded repeatedly with international troops to exercise caution to prevent civilian casualties, which has fueled distrust of international forces and the U.S.-backed government of President Hamid Karzai.

One of the victims, Sidiqullah Khan, was shot in the leg and the hand. He said his friend, a baker with whom he was talking during the clash, was killed.

``I was sitting in a bread shop. There was some fighting with a NATO convoy. The NATO convoy came and started firing on us,'' Khan said from his hospital bed. ``My friend was killed.''