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Air raid 'kills Afghan civilians' Air raid 'kills Afghan civilians'
(about 2 hours later)
Foreign forces have killed at least 21 civilians in an air strike in southern Afghanistan, local officials say.Foreign forces have killed at least 21 civilians in an air strike in southern Afghanistan, local officials say.
Helmand provincial Governor Asadullah Wafa said the deaths came in Sangin district, where Nato-led troops are battling Taleban fighters.Helmand provincial Governor Asadullah Wafa said the deaths came in Sangin district, where Nato-led troops are battling Taleban fighters.
He said women and children were killed when civilian homes were bombed.He said women and children were killed when civilian homes were bombed.
The US-led coalition said one of its troops died in fighting in Sangin but it had no reports of civilian deaths, which have recently caused an outcry.The US-led coalition said one of its troops died in fighting in Sangin but it had no reports of civilian deaths, which have recently caused an outcry.
Carelessness
Mr Wafa said the civilians were killed when planes attacked in support of Nato troops who are trying to drive militants from the lawless, opium-producing region of Sangin.
Senate urges Taleban talks Civilian deaths 'shame' USSenate urges Taleban talks Civilian deaths 'shame' US
Western forces have been accused of carelessness over civilian lives when attacking the Taleban and their allies. Wednesday's reported deaths came a day after the US military said it was "deeply ashamed" over the killings of 19 Afghan civilians by US Marines in early March.
In January, Nato said its biggest mistake last year had been killing civilians, and promised to do better. The apology came as the Afghan Senate called on the government in Kabul to open direct talks with local Taleban militants, and for attacks on them to stop.
Public discontent in Afghanistan is growing over the rising number of civilian casualties and the government's failure to improve the lives of most Afghans.Public discontent in Afghanistan is growing over the rising number of civilian casualties and the government's failure to improve the lives of most Afghans.
A spokesman for the US-led coalition said militants fired guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars at US Special Forces and Afghan soldiers on patrol 25km (15 miles) north of Sangin. Maj William Mitchell told the Associated Press news agency that troops killed a "significant" number of militants. Western forces have been accused of carelessness. In January, Nato said its biggest mistake last year had been killing civilians, and promised to do better.
Enemy casualties
Mr Wafa said the latest civilians were killed when planes attacked in support of Nato troops who are trying to drive militants from the lawless, opium-producing region of Sangin.
A statement from the American-led task force in Afghanistan, which works outside Nato command in counter-terrorism operations, said US special forces working alongside the Afghan national army had come under mortar, rocket and small arms fire while on patrol 25km (15 miles) north of Sangin.
There have been frequent protests against civilian deaths
Maj William Mitchell told the Associated Press news agency that troops killed a "significant" number of militants.
"We don't have any report of civilian casualties. There are enemy casualties - I think the number is significant," Maj Mitchell said."We don't have any report of civilian casualties. There are enemy casualties - I think the number is significant," Maj Mitchell said.
Residents of the bombed area are saying that Western troops and Afghan forces are blocking people from entering the area. Correspondents say that casualties in remote battle sites in Afghanistan are almost impossible to verify. Residents of the bombed area are saying that Western troops and Afghan forces are blocking people from entering the area.
Correspondents say that casualties in remote battle sites in Afghanistan are almost impossible to verify.
Taleban fighters are often accused of seeking shelter in peoples' homes, leading to civilian casualties, and it is often difficult to determine if people killed in such air strikes were militants or civilians.Taleban fighters are often accused of seeking shelter in peoples' homes, leading to civilian casualties, and it is often difficult to determine if people killed in such air strikes were militants or civilians.
The Helmand governor said the international forces were ambushed by Taleban insurgents on Wednesday afternoon, and air strikes were called in later against three villages.
A spokesman for US-led forces in Afghanistan would not confirm whether air strikes had been carried out by Nato or US planes.
'Dire consequences'
One local resident told the BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kabul that a number of bodies had been taken to the British base in Sangin to show they were not Taleban fighters.
But British forces could not confirm this.
Nato said their helicopters were helping to airlift injured civilians for hospital treatment.
Recent fighting has been arguably heaviest since 2001
Our correspondent says that there have been a number of incidents in the past few weeks where US special forces outside the Nato remit have been blamed for killing civilians.
President Hamid Karzai has said that more should be done to stop this from happening, and recently warned of "dire consequences for all" if civilian killings continued.
As details of the fighting in Sangin emerged, Nato announced it would allow more involvement by the Afghan government in the planning of operations, and that a system will be set up to investigate claims of civilian casualties.