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New trial for Polish soldiers over Afghanistan killings New trial for Polish soldiers over Afghanistan killings
(about 11 hours later)
Four Polish soldiers acquitted of killing eight civilians in south-east Afghanistan are to go on trial again. Four Polish soldiers acquitted of killing Afghan civilians have gone on trial in Warsaw for a second time.
The eight civilians, including women and children, died in the village of Nangar Khel when Polish troops opened fire on a wedding party in August 2007. Eight people, including women and children, died in the Afghan village of Nangar Khel when Polish troops opened fire on a wedding party in August 2007.
Military prosecutors appealed to the Polish Supreme Court after seven soldiers were cleared of war crimes in June 2011, citing lack of evidence. Military prosecutors appealed after seven soldiers were cleared of war crimes in 2011 for lack of evidence.
The court upheld the acquittal of three - ordering the re-trial of the others. A court upheld the acquittal of three but ordered a re-trial for the others, who insist they are innocent.
The judge said the men had given conflicting accounts of why the village was attacked: At times they said they were responding to Taliban fire, at others they said they were following orders or that their ammunition was faulty. A supreme court judge said the men had given conflicting accounts of why the village was attacked: at times they said they were responding to Taliban fire, at others they said they were following orders or that their ammunition was faulty.
Those facing a retrial have been named as Andrzej Oscieki, Lukasz Bywalec, Damian Ligocki and Tomasz Borysiewicz. 'Hours after attack'
Hours after attack Those being tried again were named as Warrant Officer Andrzej Oscieki, Second Lieutenant Lukasz Bywalec, Senior Master Sergeant Damian Ligocki and Sergeant Tomasz Borysiewicz.
Speaking on Wednesday, Warrant Officer Osiecki said he had faith in the judicial system.
"From the beginning, we believed that we are innocent and that hasn't changed," he told a reporter outside the court.
Three young children were among those killed when Polish soldiers, members of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), attacked the village in Paktika province, with up to 24 mortar rounds and automatic weapons.Three young children were among those killed when Polish soldiers, members of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), attacked the village in Paktika province, with up to 24 mortar rounds and automatic weapons.
It was the first time Polish soldiers had been accused of violating the Hague and Geneva Conventions protecting civilians.It was the first time Polish soldiers had been accused of violating the Hague and Geneva Conventions protecting civilians.
The men accused were from Poland's 18th Airborne-Assault Battalion and prosecutors initially called for sentences of between five and 12 years. Prosecutors initially called for sentences of between five and 12 years for the accused, who are from Poland's 18th Airborne-Assault Battalion.
In defence, they said they had come under fire and had been aiming to hit Taliban militants, insisting that the civilian deaths had come from faulty mortar equipment. The soldiers say they came under fire and were aiming to hit Taliban militants, insisting that the civilian deaths arose from faulty mortar equipment.
Prosecutors said the deaths took place several hours after a different patrol had come under attack. Prosecutors say the deaths took place several hours after a different patrol came under attack.
Poland has about 2,500 troops serving as part of the 130,000-strong Nato-led force in Afghanistan.Poland has about 2,500 troops serving as part of the 130,000-strong Nato-led force in Afghanistan.