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'Civilians killed' in Nato raids 'Civilians killed' in Nato raids
(40 minutes 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 says it is helping Afghan defence officials investigate the reports in Panjwayi district of Kandahar province. Nato says it will help Afghan officials investigate what happened after raids in two districts of Kandahar province.
The alliance had "credible reports" of some civilian casualties, but could not confirm reports of 60 dead civilians. It said 48 militants had been killed.The alliance had "credible reports" of some civilian casualties, but could not confirm reports of 60 dead civilians. It said 48 militants had been killed.
In September Nato said it had routed the Taleban in the area.In September Nato said it had routed the Taleban in the area.
'Sorry not good enough''Sorry not good enough'
Locals in Panjwayi district 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.
If there are no Taleban, then why are they bombing the area? Bismallah Afghanmal, Kandahar councillorIf there are no Taleban, then why are they bombing the area? Bismallah Afghanmal, Kandahar councillor
They said that several houses were hit, and civilians killed.They said that several houses were hit, and civilians killed.
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."
Houses were hit by Nato bombs elsewhere in the south last weekHouses were hit by Nato bombs elsewhere in the south last week
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 officials put the death toll higher. Other local officials put the death toll at between 60 and 85.
Panjwayi district chief Niaz Mohammad Sarhadi told the AFP news agency he had reports that about 60 civilians had been killed in the aerial bombardment. A statement from President Hamid Karzai said an eight-member team of tribal and community elders would investigate the reported civilian casualties during the Nato air raids.
And Kandahar provincial council member Bismallah Afghanmal put the figure at more than 80. "The team has been tasked to prepare a full and complete account of the incident and identify its causes and victims," it said.
The elders would also make suggestions on how to prevent such "unfortunate" incidents in future and ensure better co-ordination with foreign forces.
Kandahar provincial council member Bismallah Afghanmal said announcing an investigation was not enough.
"These kinds of things have happened several times, and they only say 'sorry'," he told the Associated Press news agency."These kinds of things have happened several times, and they only say 'sorry'," he told the Associated Press news agency.
"How can you compensate people who have lost their sons and daughters?""How can you compensate people who have lost their sons and daughters?"
'Human shields''Human shields'
A spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), Maj Luke Knittig, was unable to confirm the high death tolls.A spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), Maj Luke Knittig, was unable to confirm the high death tolls.
Nato says it routed the Taleban in battles in SeptemberNato says it routed the Taleban in battles in September
But he told reporters in Kabul: "Very sadly, civilians continue to get caught up in these engagements with tragic results.But he told reporters in Kabul: "Very sadly, civilians continue to get caught up in these engagements with tragic results.
"We are helping Afghan leaders there fly over the area to make an assessment," he added. "We are helping Afghan leaders there fly over the area to make an assessment."
Nato spokesman Mark Laity told the same news briefing that Taleban fighters often used locals as "human shields", and the alliance made every effort to minimise civilian casualties.Nato spokesman Mark Laity told the same news briefing that Taleban fighters often used locals as "human shields", and the alliance made every effort to minimise civilian casualties.
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.
In September, Nato said it had killed more than 500 militants during Operation Medusa in Panjwayi district. 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 the civilian deaths in the south and east, 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.
In July 2002, a US air strike in Uruzgan province left 46 civilians dead and wounded more than 100, many of whom had been at a wedding party.In July 2002, a US air strike in Uruzgan province left 46 civilians dead and wounded more than 100, many of whom had been at a wedding party.