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Afghan anger at deadly US strikes | Afghan anger at deadly US strikes |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Hundreds of people have taken to the streets in Farah in western Afghanistan in protest at the deaths of civilians in US air strikes earlier this week. | Hundreds of people have taken to the streets in Farah in western Afghanistan in protest at the deaths of civilians in US air strikes earlier this week. |
Shots were fired into the air and stones were thrown at government buildings. A number of people are reported to have been injured. | Shots were fired into the air and stones were thrown at government buildings. A number of people are reported to have been injured. |
Witnesses said the crowd chanted "death to America, death to the invaders", and demanded US forces leave Afghanistan. | Witnesses said the crowd chanted "death to America, death to the invaders", and demanded US forces leave Afghanistan. |
The protest comes as President Hamid Karzai continues his visit to the US. | The protest comes as President Hamid Karzai continues his visit to the US. |
The air strikes overshadowed a summit in Washington on Wednesday between President Barack Obama, Mr Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. | The air strikes overshadowed a summit in Washington on Wednesday between President Barack Obama, Mr Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she "deeply, deeply" regretted the deaths, adding that the US would work hard to avoid such "loss of innocent life". | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she "deeply, deeply" regretted the deaths, adding that the US would work hard to avoid such "loss of innocent life". |
A Pentagon official said so far it was not clear who was to blame for the death of the civilians. | |
"Initial American investigation shows that some of the deaths do not seem to be in concert with how a civilian would die from an air strike," the official said. | |
The New York Times quotes Pentagon officials as saying investigators were looking into the possibility that Taliban militants were responsible for the casualties. | |
Afghan officials say more than 100 civilians died in the attacks. | Afghan officials say more than 100 civilians died in the attacks. |
Protests 'violent' | Protests 'violent' |
Deputy provincial governor Mohammad Younus Rasouli described the protests on Thursday as "violent". | Deputy provincial governor Mohammad Younus Rasouli described the protests on Thursday as "violent". |
"Police tried to disperse them but they started throwing stones at police, who fired into the air," he told AFP news agency. | "Police tried to disperse them but they started throwing stones at police, who fired into the air," he told AFP news agency. |
One protester, Haji Nangyalai, 42, said he was demonstrating to "show our anger at the crimes committed by the American forces". | One protester, Haji Nangyalai, 42, said he was demonstrating to "show our anger at the crimes committed by the American forces". |
"We ask the Afghan government to force the American forces to leave Afghanistan. They kill more civilians than Taleban," he said. | "We ask the Afghan government to force the American forces to leave Afghanistan. They kill more civilians than Taleban," he said. |
Afghan police said more than 100 people had died, most of them civilians. One Afghan official said he had counted the bodies of 20 children. | Afghan police said more than 100 people had died, most of them civilians. One Afghan official said he had counted the bodies of 20 children. |
The Red Cross has said that women and children were among dozens of dead. | The Red Cross has said that women and children were among dozens of dead. |
President Karzai has long pleaded with Washington to minimise civilian deaths, saying such killings undermine the fight against the Taleban. | President Karzai has long pleaded with Washington to minimise civilian deaths, saying such killings undermine the fight against the Taleban. |
US President Barack Obama said after meeting his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts in Washington that the three leaders were united in the goal of defeating al-Qaeda. | US President Barack Obama said after meeting his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts in Washington that the three leaders were united in the goal of defeating al-Qaeda. |
He said he expected more setbacks and violence to come, but there was a lasting commitment to defeat the militants. | He said he expected more setbacks and violence to come, but there was a lasting commitment to defeat the militants. |
The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says President Karzai is now back in favour at the White House following months of fierce criticism from US officials. | The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says President Karzai is now back in favour at the White House following months of fierce criticism from US officials. |
But our correspondent says he will have to face growing anger over the civilian casualties when he returns home. | But our correspondent says he will have to face growing anger over the civilian casualties when he returns home. |
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited a US Marines base in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, and said there were no plans to deploy US troops in Pakistan. | US Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited a US Marines base in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, and said there were no plans to deploy US troops in Pakistan. |
The Pakistani army is currently engaged in fierce fighting against Taleban insurgents in the north-west of the country. | The Pakistani army is currently engaged in fierce fighting against Taleban insurgents in the north-west of the country. |
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