This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7567169.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UK troops 'kill Afghan civilians' | UK troops 'kill Afghan civilians' |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| An investigation is under way after four civilians were apparently killed and three injured in Afghanistan in a rocket attack by British troops. | An investigation is under way after four civilians were apparently killed and three injured in Afghanistan in a rocket attack by British troops. |
| The incident involving the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment happened on Saturday in the Sangin district of Helmand province. | The incident involving the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment happened on Saturday in the Sangin district of Helmand province. |
| An International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) spokesman said the patrol launched the rockets in self-defence. | An International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) spokesman said the patrol launched the rockets in self-defence. |
| The Ministry of Defence said a full investigation would be carried out. | The Ministry of Defence said a full investigation would be carried out. |
| The spokesman added: "Our sympathies are with the families of the killed and injured civilians at this time." | The spokesman added: "Our sympathies are with the families of the killed and injured civilians at this time." |
| The incident happened on Saturday morning when a patrol picked up a radio message calling for insurgents to converge on the area to attack the patrol, an Isaf spokesman said. The enemies of Afghanistan have yet again shown a complete disregard for the lives of the innocent who they claim to fight for Isaf spokesman | The incident happened on Saturday morning when a patrol picked up a radio message calling for insurgents to converge on the area to attack the patrol, an Isaf spokesman said. The enemies of Afghanistan have yet again shown a complete disregard for the lives of the innocent who they claim to fight for Isaf spokesman |
| He said the patrol identified insurgents with weapons on the roof of a building preparing to attack. | He said the patrol identified insurgents with weapons on the roof of a building preparing to attack. |
| In order to protect themselves, the patrol launched three rockets, all of which hit the target. | In order to protect themselves, the patrol launched three rockets, all of which hit the target. |
| The spokesman said they later discovered civilians were inside the building at the time. | The spokesman said they later discovered civilians were inside the building at the time. |
| The casualties were treated at a nearby Isaf medical facility where two of them, both children, remain seriously ill. | The casualties were treated at a nearby Isaf medical facility where two of them, both children, remain seriously ill. |
| "The enemies of Afghanistan have yet again shown a complete disregard for the lives of the innocent who they claim to fight for," he added. | "The enemies of Afghanistan have yet again shown a complete disregard for the lives of the innocent who they claim to fight for," he added. |
| BBC security correspondent Rob Watson said more than 900 civilians have been killed this year - the majority by insurgents. | BBC security correspondent Rob Watson said more than 900 civilians have been killed this year - the majority by insurgents. |
| Defence sources complain that launching attacks from among civilians is a frequent tactic of the Taleban, and although such incidents do not happen daily they are hardly uncommon, our correspondent added. | |
| British troops have been engaged in Afghanistan since September 2001 and there are now approximately 7,300 British troops across the south of the country. | British troops have been engaged in Afghanistan since September 2001 and there are now approximately 7,300 British troops across the south of the country. |
| The number of UK troops killed on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 stands at 115, following the death of a soldier after a suicide bomber drove his car into a convoy on the outskirts of Kabul, on 11 August. | The number of UK troops killed on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 stands at 115, following the death of a soldier after a suicide bomber drove his car into a convoy on the outskirts of Kabul, on 11 August. |