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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Australia probes Afghan killings | Australia probes Afghan killings |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Australia is investigating an incident involving its troops in southern Afghanistan in which five children are reported to have been killed. | Australia is investigating an incident involving its troops in southern Afghanistan in which five children are reported to have been killed. |
| An official statement said Australian special forces were clearing houses in Uruzgan province in a hunt for militants and came under attack. | An official statement said Australian special forces were clearing houses in Uruzgan province in a hunt for militants and came under attack. |
| They fired back at Taleban insurgents, and five children were among the dead. | They fired back at Taleban insurgents, and five children were among the dead. |
| Australia's military has about 1,100 soldiers in Afghanistan, based mainly in Uruzgan province. | Australia's military has about 1,100 soldiers in Afghanistan, based mainly in Uruzgan province. |
| Afghan President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly urged international forces in the country to try to reduce civilian deaths. | Afghan President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly urged international forces in the country to try to reduce civilian deaths. |
| Second probe | Second probe |
| The Australian defence department said that the incident took place in the early hours of Thursday and involved its Special Operations Task Group. | |
| We're taking every measure we can to avoid civilian casualties. It's a pity that the Taleban doesn't do the same Lt Gen Mark Evans Afghans losing confidence | We're taking every measure we can to avoid civilian casualties. It's a pity that the Taleban doesn't do the same Lt Gen Mark Evans Afghans losing confidence |
| It said the soldiers had acted "in accordance with their rules of engagement". | It said the soldiers had acted "in accordance with their rules of engagement". |
| The injured were either treated on site or evacuated to medical facilities, the department said. | The injured were either treated on site or evacuated to medical facilities, the department said. |
| Australia's chief of joint operations Lt Gen Mark Evans told reporters in Canberra the Australian forces operated "in a very complex environment in Afghanistan". | Australia's chief of joint operations Lt Gen Mark Evans told reporters in Canberra the Australian forces operated "in a very complex environment in Afghanistan". |
| "The Taleban operate within the civilian community. We do everything we can to avoid civilian casualties and deeply regret the loss of innocent life," he said. | "The Taleban operate within the civilian community. We do everything we can to avoid civilian casualties and deeply regret the loss of innocent life," he said. |
| "We're taking every measure we can to avoid civilian casualties. It's a pity that the Taleban doesn't do the same." | "We're taking every measure we can to avoid civilian casualties. It's a pity that the Taleban doesn't do the same." |
| Australia already has an investigation under way into allegations that Australian soldiers caused civilian casualties during fighting in Uruzgan in early January. | Australia already has an investigation under way into allegations that Australian soldiers caused civilian casualties during fighting in Uruzgan in early January. |
| The killing of civilians by international forces remains one of the key concerns of President Karzai. | The killing of civilians by international forces remains one of the key concerns of President Karzai. |
| Last month, he again called on US-led and Nato troops in his country to do more to reduce civilian casualties. | Last month, he again called on US-led and Nato troops in his country to do more to reduce civilian casualties. |
| He said continued civilian deaths would "not bear any progress in the war against terrorism". | He said continued civilian deaths would "not bear any progress in the war against terrorism". |