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| US 'deeply' regrets Afghan deaths | US 'deeply' regrets Afghan deaths |
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| Washington "deeply, deeply" regrets the death of Afghan civilians killed by an air strike, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said. | Washington "deeply, deeply" regrets the death of Afghan civilians killed by an air strike, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said. |
| Red Cross officials believe dozens of civilians including women and children died in the strike which targeted Taleban fighters in Farah Province. | Red Cross officials believe dozens of civilians including women and children died in the strike which targeted Taleban fighters in Farah Province. |
| The civilians are said to have been sheltering from fighting at the time. | The civilians are said to have been sheltering from fighting at the time. |
| Mrs Clinton was speaking alongside the Afghan and Pakistani presidents who are in Washington to meet Barack Obama. | Mrs Clinton was speaking alongside the Afghan and Pakistani presidents who are in Washington to meet Barack Obama. |
| See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
| She said there would be a joint investigation into the deaths. | She said there would be a joint investigation into the deaths. |
| The Afghan leader, Hamid Karzai, has said he will raise the incident with Mr Obama. | The Afghan leader, Hamid Karzai, has said he will raise the incident with Mr Obama. |
| Hillary Clinton: 'There will be a joint investigation' | Hillary Clinton: 'There will be a joint investigation' |
| But he thanked Mrs Clinton for her statement of regret. | But he thanked Mrs Clinton for her statement of regret. |
| Pakistan's leader, Asif Ali Zardari, said he would work with Mr Karzai, whom he called his "brother", to defeat the "cancer" of terrorism. | Pakistan's leader, Asif Ali Zardari, said he would work with Mr Karzai, whom he called his "brother", to defeat the "cancer" of terrorism. |
| He faces a growing crisis in his own country amid a new outbreak of fighting between the army and Taleban rebels in the Swat Valley region. | He faces a growing crisis in his own country amid a new outbreak of fighting between the army and Taleban rebels in the Swat Valley region. |
| 'Sheltering' | 'Sheltering' |
| International Committee of the Red Cross observers who visited the site of the air strikes saw houses destroyed and dozens of dead bodies, including women and children, a spokeswoman said. | International Committee of the Red Cross observers who visited the site of the air strikes saw houses destroyed and dozens of dead bodies, including women and children, a spokeswoman said. |
| "We can absolutely confirm there were civilian casualties," Jessica Barry said. "It seemed they were trying to shelter in houses when they were hit." | "We can absolutely confirm there were civilian casualties," Jessica Barry said. "It seemed they were trying to shelter in houses when they were hit." |
| The governor of Farah province, Rohul Amin, backed the Red Cross verdict that civilians had died but he could not confirm numbers. | The governor of Farah province, Rohul Amin, backed the Red Cross verdict that civilians had died but he could not confirm numbers. |
| Martin PatienceBBC News, Kabul Here in Afghanistan, people are taking this very seriously. Just a few hours ago there were rowdy scenes in the Afghan parliament with many parliamentarians protesting at what appears to be a large loss of lives of Afghan civilians. Ultimately, the international community and the Afghan government need to win over ordinary Afghans. Every time there is an incident like this, it sets back the whole agenda. So it's a very dangerous, problematic step for the international community and something the international forces will be desperate to avoid in the future. | Martin PatienceBBC News, Kabul Here in Afghanistan, people are taking this very seriously. Just a few hours ago there were rowdy scenes in the Afghan parliament with many parliamentarians protesting at what appears to be a large loss of lives of Afghan civilians. Ultimately, the international community and the Afghan government need to win over ordinary Afghans. Every time there is an incident like this, it sets back the whole agenda. So it's a very dangerous, problematic step for the international community and something the international forces will be desperate to avoid in the future. |
| The US military said coalition troops had been called to assist Afghan forces as they attempted to fight off an insurgent attack. It has sent a team of investigators to Farah. | The US military said coalition troops had been called to assist Afghan forces as they attempted to fight off an insurgent attack. It has sent a team of investigators to Farah. |
| Tuesday's violence broke out after more than 100 Taleban militants attacked a police checkpoint in Farah, in the far west of Afghanistan, killing three police, Afghan officials say. | Tuesday's violence broke out after more than 100 Taleban militants attacked a police checkpoint in Farah, in the far west of Afghanistan, killing three police, Afghan officials say. |
| They later entered a village where they beheaded three people accused of being government collaborators. | They later entered a village where they beheaded three people accused of being government collaborators. |
| At least 25 Taleban fighters are reported also to have died in the US air strike. | At least 25 Taleban fighters are reported also to have died in the US air strike. |
| Officials and police sources in Farah have estimated the total number of dead, including civilians, at around 100. | Officials and police sources in Farah have estimated the total number of dead, including civilians, at around 100. |
| Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Kabul on an unannounced visit. An AFP news agency correspondent travelling with him says he will focus on preparations for the scheduled influx of tens of thousands more US troops. | Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Kabul on an unannounced visit. An AFP news agency correspondent travelling with him says he will focus on preparations for the scheduled influx of tens of thousands more US troops. |
| Crisis in Pakistan | Crisis in Pakistan |
| Mr Obama will hold bilateral talks with Mr Karzai and Mr Zardari, before all three hold a joint meeting. | Mr Obama will hold bilateral talks with Mr Karzai and Mr Zardari, before all three hold a joint meeting. |
| Thousands of Pakistanis are reported to be fleeing their homes as a peace deal between the government in Islamabad and Taleban militants appears on the verge of collapse. | |
| Fighting flared overnight in Mingora, the main town in Swat, and continued into Wednesday, with reports of helicopter gunships bombarding militant positions. | Fighting flared overnight in Mingora, the main town in Swat, and continued into Wednesday, with reports of helicopter gunships bombarding militant positions. |
| The government has warned that 500,000 people could try to leave if the peace deal formally breaks down, although the BBC's Mark Dummett, in Islamabad, says the army has not yet launched the offensive most are now expecting. | The government has warned that 500,000 people could try to leave if the peace deal formally breaks down, although the BBC's Mark Dummett, in Islamabad, says the army has not yet launched the offensive most are now expecting. |
| On Tuesday the US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, told a congressional hearing in Washington that Pakistan must do more to combat the Taleban. | On Tuesday the US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, told a congressional hearing in Washington that Pakistan must do more to combat the Taleban. |