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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Children die in Afghan air raid | Children die in Afghan air raid |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Seven children were killed in a US-led coalition air strike against a suspected al-Qaeda hideout in eastern Afghanistan, the coalition has said. | Seven children were killed in a US-led coalition air strike against a suspected al-Qaeda hideout in eastern Afghanistan, the coalition has said. |
| A statement said that a number of militants were also killed in the raid in Paktika province, near Pakistan. | |
| The children are believed to have been students at a madrassa, or Islamic school, at the targeted compound. | The children are believed to have been students at a madrassa, or Islamic school, at the targeted compound. |
| In the south, three coalition soldiers and their Afghan interpreter died in a bomb blast, the US military said. | In the south, three coalition soldiers and their Afghan interpreter died in a bomb blast, the US military said. |
| This is another example of al-Qaeda using the protective status of a mosque Coalition spokesman Major Chris Belcher Can Afghan war be won? | This is another example of al-Qaeda using the protective status of a mosque Coalition spokesman Major Chris Belcher Can Afghan war be won? |
| The deaths came after "an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle in Kandahar province" on Sunday, a statement said. | The deaths came after "an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle in Kandahar province" on Sunday, a statement said. |
| Afghan police and coalition forces also fought "prolonged battles" with militants in Helmand and Kandahar provinces, the coalition says. It says "several dozen" militants were killed in Helmand but there is no independent confirmation of this. | Afghan police and coalition forces also fought "prolonged battles" with militants in Helmand and Kandahar provinces, the coalition says. It says "several dozen" militants were killed in Helmand but there is no independent confirmation of this. |
| Hours before the Sunday night air raid in Paktika, a devastating bomb attack on an Afghan police bus in Kabul killed 35 people and injured more than 30 others. | Hours before the Sunday night air raid in Paktika, a devastating bomb attack on an Afghan police bus in Kabul killed 35 people and injured more than 30 others. |
| 'Saddened' | 'Saddened' |
| A coalition statement said the air raid followed "credible intelligence" that al-Qaeda militants had taken shelter at the complex. | A coalition statement said the air raid followed "credible intelligence" that al-Qaeda militants had taken shelter at the complex. |
| "Coalition forces confirmed the presence of nefarious activity occurring at the site before getting approval to conduct an air strike on the location," the statement said. | "Coalition forces confirmed the presence of nefarious activity occurring at the site before getting approval to conduct an air strike on the location," the statement said. |
| It said the compound in Zarghun Shah in Paktika province, about 120 miles (180km) south of the capital, Kabul, also contained a mosque and a madrassa (Islamic school). | It said the compound in Zarghun Shah in Paktika province, about 120 miles (180km) south of the capital, Kabul, also contained a mosque and a madrassa (Islamic school). |
| The statement said that residents of the targeted compound reported that militants had been at the camp all day. | The statement said that residents of the targeted compound reported that militants had been at the camp all day. |
| "This is another example of al-Qaeda using the protective status of a mosque, as well as innocent civilians, to shield themselves," coalition spokesman Major Chris Belcher said. | "This is another example of al-Qaeda using the protective status of a mosque, as well as innocent civilians, to shield themselves," coalition spokesman Major Chris Belcher said. |
| Kabul fear after bus blast | Kabul fear after bus blast |
| "We are saddened by the innocent lives that were lost as a result of militants' cowardice." | "We are saddened by the innocent lives that were lost as a result of militants' cowardice." |
| In a later statement, the coalition said it did not believe any children were in or around the compound during the day. | In a later statement, the coalition said it did not believe any children were in or around the compound during the day. |
| It said other children who survived the air strike alleged that the seven children who died were held inside the building all day and beaten and pushed away from the door if they tried to go outside. | It said other children who survived the air strike alleged that the seven children who died were held inside the building all day and beaten and pushed away from the door if they tried to go outside. |
| Paktika's governor has so far refused to comment on the attack, and there has been no word from locals themselves. | Paktika's governor has so far refused to comment on the attack, and there has been no word from locals themselves. |
| The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says foreign forces in Afghanistan constantly accuse militants of using civilians as human shields. | The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says foreign forces in Afghanistan constantly accuse militants of using civilians as human shields. |
| There is, however, anger at the rising number of civilians killed in such foreign-led strikes, and President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly asked the coalition and Nato-led forces to try to minimise such casualties, he says. | There is, however, anger at the rising number of civilians killed in such foreign-led strikes, and President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly asked the coalition and Nato-led forces to try to minimise such casualties, he says. |
| The fact that the coalition issued this statement quite rapidly suggests it is expecting a negative reaction, our correspondent says. | The fact that the coalition issued this statement quite rapidly suggests it is expecting a negative reaction, our correspondent says. |
| Kabul bombing | Kabul bombing |
| Sunday's bomb attack on the police bus in Kabul is thought to be the most devastating bomb attack in the capital since the Taleban were ousted in 2001. | Sunday's bomb attack on the police bus in Kabul is thought to be the most devastating bomb attack in the capital since the Taleban were ousted in 2001. |
| Police said a number of civilians were also among those killed in the rush-hour attack close to police headquarters in the city centre. | Police said a number of civilians were also among those killed in the rush-hour attack close to police headquarters in the city centre. |
| Five foreigners were wounded in the attack. | Five foreigners were wounded in the attack. |
| The BBC's world affairs editor, John Simpson, says such an attack is disturbingly new on the streets of Kabul and the tactics appear to have been borrowed directly from Iraq. | The BBC's world affairs editor, John Simpson, says such an attack is disturbingly new on the streets of Kabul and the tactics appear to have been borrowed directly from Iraq. |
| Are you in Afghanistan? Have you witnessed any of the attacks? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Are you in Afghanistan? Have you witnessed any of the attacks? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |