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| 'Civilians killed' in Nato raids | 'Civilians killed' in Nato raids |
| (4 days later) | |
| Scores of civilians have been killed during Nato operations against Taleban fighters in southern Afghanistan, local officials and civilians say. | Scores of civilians have been killed during Nato operations against Taleban fighters in southern Afghanistan, local officials and civilians say. |
| Nato said it had "credible reports" of civilian casualties in two districts of Kandahar province, but could not confirm that as many as 60 had died. | Nato said it had "credible reports" of civilian casualties in two districts of Kandahar province, but could not confirm that as many as 60 had died. |
| Spokesman Mark Laity said 48 militants had been killed, and apologised for any inadvertent civilian deaths. | Spokesman Mark Laity said 48 militants had been killed, and apologised for any inadvertent civilian deaths. |
| The UN Afghan mission said it was seriously concerned about the incident. | The UN Afghan mission said it was seriously concerned about the incident. |
| 'Human shields' | 'Human shields' |
| Mr Laity told the BBC the alliance would help Afghan officials investigate what happened. | Mr Laity told the BBC the alliance would help Afghan officials investigate what happened. |
| He said that militants in the area sometimes used civilians as human shields. | He said that militants in the area sometimes used civilians as human shields. |
| "When you have active insurgency, things can happen," Mr Laity said. | "When you have active insurgency, things can happen," Mr Laity said. |
| If there are no Taleban, then why are they bombing the area? Bismallah Afghanmal, Kandahar councillor | If there are no Taleban, then why are they bombing the area? Bismallah Afghanmal, Kandahar councillor |
| "We've got an active insurgency down here. We've got tight rules of engagement but sometimes things go wrong." | "We've got an active insurgency down here. We've got tight rules of engagement but sometimes things go wrong." |
| "Sometimes the Taleban are among local people, sometimes there aren't civilians - the Taleban claim there are civilians and there aren't." | "Sometimes the Taleban are among local people, sometimes there aren't civilians - the Taleban claim there are civilians and there aren't." |
| Locals in Panjwayi and Pashmul districts of Kandahar province say the Nato raids began on Tuesday, during the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan, and continued into the night. | Locals in Panjwayi and Pashmul districts of Kandahar province say the Nato raids began on Tuesday, during the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan, and continued into the night. |
| They said that several houses were hit, and civilians killed. | They said that several houses were hit, and civilians killed. |
| Funerals have already been held for a number of those killed, relatives said. | Funerals have already been held for a number of those killed, relatives said. |
| Bombing raids | Bombing raids |
| Villagers told the BBC Pashto service that the bodies of many locals had been pulled from the rubble of their homes after the raids and buried. | Villagers told the BBC Pashto service that the bodies of many locals had been pulled from the rubble of their homes after the raids and buried. |
| "Twenty members of my family are killed and 10 are injured," one survivor said. "The injured are in Mirwais hospital in Kandahar city and anybody can go and see them. | "Twenty members of my family are killed and 10 are injured," one survivor said. "The injured are in Mirwais hospital in Kandahar city and anybody can go and see them. |
| "For God's sake, come and see our situation." | "For God's sake, come and see our situation." |
| Another man said women and children were among 15 members of his family who had been killed. | Another man said women and children were among 15 members of his family who had been killed. |
| "The airplanes came and were bombing until 3 am. And, in the morning, they started hitting our village with mortars and rockets. They didn't allow anybody to come to our help." | "The airplanes came and were bombing until 3 am. And, in the morning, they started hitting our village with mortars and rockets. They didn't allow anybody to come to our help." |
| Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Zmarai Bashiry told the BBC that local police and officials had confirmed more than 40 villagers killed in the Nato raids. | Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Zmarai Bashiry told the BBC that local police and officials had confirmed more than 40 villagers killed in the Nato raids. |
| Other local officials put the death toll at between 60 and 85. | Other local officials put the death toll at between 60 and 85. |
| 'Sorry not enough' | 'Sorry not enough' |
| A statement from President Hamid Karzai said an eight-member team of tribal and community elders would investigate the reported civilian casualties. | A statement from President Hamid Karzai said an eight-member team of tribal and community elders would investigate the reported civilian casualties. |
| Nato says it routed the Taleban in battles in September | Nato says it routed the Taleban in battles in September |
| The elders would also make suggestions on how to prevent such "unfortunate" incidents in future and ensure better co-ordination with foreign forces. | The elders would also make suggestions on how to prevent such "unfortunate" incidents in future and ensure better co-ordination with foreign forces. |
| A Taleban statement sent to the BBC said none of the movement's fighters had been killed in the Panjwayi clashes, and that any deaths were civilian. | A Taleban statement sent to the BBC said none of the movement's fighters had been killed in the Panjwayi clashes, and that any deaths were civilian. |
| President Hamid Karzai has been under mounting pressure over civilian deaths and has urged foreign forces to exercise more caution. | President Hamid Karzai has been under mounting pressure over civilian deaths and has urged foreign forces to exercise more caution. |
| Last week, up to 21 civilians were killed in two Nato operations in Kandahar and neighbouring Helmand province. | Last week, up to 21 civilians were killed in two Nato operations in Kandahar and neighbouring Helmand province. |
| Hundreds of people have been killed in Afghanistan this year, the bloodiest since the Taleban were removed from power by US-led forces in 2001. | Hundreds of people have been killed in Afghanistan this year, the bloodiest since the Taleban were removed from power by US-led forces in 2001. |