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Nato raid 'hits Afghan civilians' Inquiry after deadly Afghan raid
(about 2 hours later)
Police in the southern Afghan province of Helmand say more civilians have been killed in bombardments by foreign forces on Friday night. Foreign troops in Afghanistan say they believe some civilians were killed in their bombardments in the southern province of Helmand late on Friday.
Local people have told the BBC they think more than 50 have died, including women and children. Local people say they think more than 50 died, including women and children.
The Nato-led force, Isaf, says operations were going on but that it was not aware of civilian casualties. A spokesman for the US-led military coalition told the BBC an inquiry was under way after an incident involving civilian casualties.
Several dozen villagers near the town of Gereshk separately telephoned the BBC to report bombing by Isaf forces. Foreign military spokesmen say the coalition led the bombing but it was in support of Nato-led Isaf forces.
The bombing had lasted two to three hours, they said. Earlier several dozen villagers near the town of Gereshk told the BBC that "foreign forces" had bombed their area for two to three hours late on Friday after earlier clashes with Taleban rebels.
Intensive fighting They believed between 50 and 80 civilians had been killed, including women and children, and said they were bringing the bodies to the local authorities.
They believed between 50 and 80 civilians had been killed, including children and women, and said they were bringing the bodies to Gereshk to show the authorities. The Helmand provincial police chief agreed that there had been civilian casualties and accused the foreign forces of not consulting the Afghan authorities before the bombings.
They said the bombardments had come six hours after an intensive spell of fighting on the ground between foreign forces and Taleban insurgents. A week ago, after the death of some 25 civilians in the Gereshk area, President Hamid Karzai accused foreign forces of acting recklessly and ordered them to co-ordinate better with his government.
The Helmand provincial police chief, Mohammad Hussein Andiwal, said there had been civilian casualties but did not give a figure.
He said that the foreign forces had failed to consult the Afghan authorities before the bombings.
Contacted by the BBC, a spokesman for Isaf said an offensive operation had been going on in the Gereshk area for two days, involving extensive air power and bombardments.
He said he was aware of insurgent casualties but not civilian ones.
A week ago, after the death of some 25 civilians in the same district, President Hamid Karzai accused foreign forces of acting recklessly and ordered them to co-ordinate better with his government.
Accounts from on the ground say between 240 and 320 civilians had been killed by foreign forces this year before these latest deaths.Accounts from on the ground say between 240 and 320 civilians had been killed by foreign forces this year before these latest deaths.
Foreign forces and the Afghan government say the Taleban often take refuge in civilian areas after launching attacks, ordering people to shelter them.Foreign forces and the Afghan government say the Taleban often take refuge in civilian areas after launching attacks, ordering people to shelter them.