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| Afghan boys killed by Nato troops | Afghan boys killed by Nato troops |
| (1 day later) | |
| Nato forces have shot dead two boys during an operation in Afghanistan, in the latest in a series of incidents involving allegations of civilian deaths at the hands of international troops. | |
| The shooting in the southern province of Uruzgan could further strain the relationship between the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) and the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, who has demanded US special forces leave another province over allegations of torture. | The shooting in the southern province of Uruzgan could further strain the relationship between the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) and the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, who has demanded US special forces leave another province over allegations of torture. |
| The two boys were shot dead when they were mistaken for insurgents during an operation in the north-west of Uruzgan on 28 February, the Isaf commander, US General Joseph Dunford, said. | The two boys were shot dead when they were mistaken for insurgents during an operation in the north-west of Uruzgan on 28 February, the Isaf commander, US General Joseph Dunford, said. |
| "I offer my personal apology and condolences to the family of the boys who were killed," Dunford said in a statement. | "I offer my personal apology and condolences to the family of the boys who were killed," Dunford said in a statement. |
| "The boys were killed when coalition forces fired at what they thought were insurgent forces," he said. | "The boys were killed when coalition forces fired at what they thought were insurgent forces," he said. |
| A team of Afghan and Isaf investigators visited the village on Saturday and met local leaders, Dunford said. | A team of Afghan and Isaf investigators visited the village on Saturday and met local leaders, Dunford said. |
| Australian forces, who are deployed in Uruzgan, said earlier there had been an "operational incident" in the province but gave no details. | Australian forces, who are deployed in Uruzgan, said earlier there had been an "operational incident" in the province but gave no details. |
| On 13 February, a Nato air strike requested by Afghan forces killed 10 people – including five children and four women – in the eastern province of Kunar, prompting Karzai to ban his troops from requesting foreign air strikes. | On 13 February, a Nato air strike requested by Afghan forces killed 10 people – including five children and four women – in the eastern province of Kunar, prompting Karzai to ban his troops from requesting foreign air strikes. |
| Two weeks later he halted all special forces operations in the central province of Wardak after a series of allegations involving US special forces soldiers and Afghan men said to be working with them. | Two weeks later he halted all special forces operations in the central province of Wardak after a series of allegations involving US special forces soldiers and Afghan men said to be working with them. |
| • This article was amended on 4 March 2013. Initial reports referred to the shooting as being accidental however the word has been deleted as the full facts of the shooting have yet to be established. |