Reply #4: Afghans protest against US on civilian deaths report

[struggle4progress]

Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:14am GMT
By Mohammad Rafiq

MEHTAR LAM, Afghanistan, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Thousands of Afghans protested against President Hamid Karzai and the United States on Sunday over reports of fresh civilian deaths caused by U.S.-led troops during a raid against Taliban militants.

The issue of civilian casualties is sensitive in Afghanistan and has eroded public support for Karzai's government and the foreign troops backing it ...

The operation causing the latest controversy happened this week in eastern Laghman province. The U.S. military said on Saturday that troops, backed by air support, had killed 15 militants in an overnight operation.

Assadullah Wafa, a Karzai adviser, tasked to investigate the deaths, said on Sunday "16 civilians, many of them children and women, were killed" in the operation ...

http://uk.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUKISL379708