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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| At least 20 dead in Afghan strike | At least 20 dead in Afghan strike |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 20 people have been killed in a missile strike by coalition forces in Afghan's eastern Nangarhar province. | At least 20 people have been killed in a missile strike by coalition forces in Afghan's eastern Nangarhar province. |
| Local people say that the group was a wedding party and most of the dead were women and children. | Local people say that the group was a wedding party and most of the dead were women and children. |
| But the US has said that those killed were militants involved in previous mortar attacks on Nato base. | But the US has said that those killed were militants involved in previous mortar attacks on Nato base. |
| Meanwhile Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered an investigation into a missile attack by US helicopters on Friday in which 15 people died. | Meanwhile Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered an investigation into a missile attack by US helicopters on Friday in which 15 people died. |
| Deh Bala district governor Hamisha Gul told AFP news agency that 22 people had been killed in the strike - 19 of them women and children. | Deh Bala district governor Hamisha Gul told AFP news agency that 22 people had been killed in the strike - 19 of them women and children. |
| He said the information had come from police and other officials investigating the incident in the remote area. | He said the information had come from police and other officials investigating the incident in the remote area. |
| 'No civilians' | |
| A man at the hospital in Jalalabad told AP news agency that the group were a wedding party on their way to the groom's house. | |
| "They stopped in a narrow location for rest. The plane came and bombed the area," he said. | "They stopped in a narrow location for rest. The plane came and bombed the area," he said. |
| "There were between 80 to 90 people altogether. We have carried six of the injured to this hospital, and more might be coming. The exact number of casualties is not clear." | "There were between 80 to 90 people altogether. We have carried six of the injured to this hospital, and more might be coming. The exact number of casualties is not clear." |
| However, US military personnel have denied that the group were civilians. | However, US military personnel have denied that the group were civilians. |
| Coalition media officer Captain Christian Patterson told AFP they had received no reports of civilian casualties. | Coalition media officer Captain Christian Patterson told AFP they had received no reports of civilian casualties. |
| "It was not a wedding party, there were no women or children present," he said. | "It was not a wedding party, there were no women or children present," he said. |
| In a separate incident on Friday, 15 civilians were reported to have been killed by a missile attack in Kunar province. | In a separate incident on Friday, 15 civilians were reported to have been killed by a missile attack in Kunar province. |
| Mr Karzai has ordered an investigation into the incident which the US said killed only militants. | Mr Karzai has ordered an investigation into the incident which the US said killed only militants. |
| A statement released by the presidential palace on Sunday said Mr Karzai "has repeatedly emphasised the (need for) coordination of military operations and has been deeply saddened since learning about this incident". | A statement released by the presidential palace on Sunday said Mr Karzai "has repeatedly emphasised the (need for) coordination of military operations and has been deeply saddened since learning about this incident". |