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/7774939.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
US-led troops kill Afghan police US-led strikes kill Afghan police
(about 2 hours later)
Six Afghan policemen and a civilian have been killed in a clash with US-led special forces in the south of the country, US and Afghan officials say. Six Afghan policemen and a civilian have been killed in air strikes after a clash with US-led special forces in the south of the country, US officials say.
Thirteen other policemen were wounded in the Zabul province attack, they say.Thirteen other policemen were wounded in the Zabul province attack, they say.
Zabul's deputy police chief said an investigation had begun into what the US military said was a tragic case of mistaken identity by both parties. Zabul's deputy police chief said an investigation had begun into what the US military said was a case of mistaken identity by both parties.
Correspondents say so-called friendly fire incidents between US or Nato and Afghan forces happen frequently.Correspondents say so-called friendly fire incidents between US or Nato and Afghan forces happen frequently.
'Deeply regretted''Deeply regretted'
A US military statement said police fired on the American forces as they were fighting an armed militant in the city of Qalat, the Zabul capital. Gulab Shah Alikhail, Zabul's deputy governor, told the AP news agency that US special forces were carrying out an attack against militants near a police checkpoint on the outskirts of provincial capital Qalat.
It said that the Americans returned fire against the police but only later learned their identities. The police, thinking it was a Taleban attack, opened fire, he said. Then a helicopter fired on the security post and destroyed it, he said.
Officials say that the US special forces did not inform the police they were going to the village because of fears their plans could be passed on to the Taleban by sympathetic officials.
A US military statement confirmed the Americans returned fire on the police but only later learned their identities.
"Coalition forces deeply regret the incident of mistaken fire," US military spokesman Col Jerry O'Hara said."Coalition forces deeply regret the incident of mistaken fire," US military spokesman Col Jerry O'Hara said.
"Initial reports indicate this was a tragic case of mistaken identity on both parts.""Initial reports indicate this was a tragic case of mistaken identity on both parts."
Gulab Shah Alikhail, the province's deputy governor, told the AP news agency that US special forces were carrying out an attack against militants near a police checkpoint on the outskirts of Qalat.
The police, thinking it was a Taleban attack, opened fire, he said. Then a helicopter fired on the security post and destroyed it, he said.
Officials say that special forces did not inform the police that they were going to the village because of fears that their plans could be passed on to the Taleban by sympathetic officials.
The US statement said that the target of Wednesday's raid was a militant commander "known to co-ordinate attacks against coalition forces along Highway One".The US statement said that the target of Wednesday's raid was a militant commander "known to co-ordinate attacks against coalition forces along Highway One".
The road is Afghanistan's main highway that circles the country. The statement did not say if the commander had been killed in the operation. The road is Afghanistan's main highway that circles the country. US military officials say that the commander was killed in the operation.
The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says that this is not the first time the US military has mistakenly killed Afghan security forces.
In October, at least nine Afghan soldiers were killed in the eastern province of Khost by American airstrikes - after being mistakenly identified as Taleban insurgents.