This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6086064.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| 'Civilians killed' in Nato raids | 'Civilians killed' in Nato raids |
| (20 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 will help Afghan officials investigate what happened after raids in two districts 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 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 week | Houses 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 local officials put the death toll at between 60 and 85. | Other local officials put the death toll at between 60 and 85. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "The team has been tasked to prepare a full and complete account of the incident and identify its causes and victims," it said. | "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. | 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. | 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 September | Nato 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." | "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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |