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'Civilians killed' in Nato raids 'Civilians killed' in Nato raids
(about 5 hours 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 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.
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. Spokesman Mark Laity said 48 militants had been killed, and apologised for any inadvertent civilian deaths.
Funerals have already been held for a number of those killed, relatives say. The UN Afghan mission said it was seriously concerned about the incident.
In September Nato said it had routed the Taleban in one of their strongholds in Kandahar province after a two-week-long operation in which 500 militants were killed. 'Human shields'
'Sorry not good enough' Mr Laity told the BBC the alliance would help Afghan officials investigate what happened.
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. He said that militants in the area sometimes used civilians as human shields.
"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 councillorIf 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."
"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.
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.
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.
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. 'Sorry not enough'
"The team has been tasked to prepare a full and complete account of the incident and identify its causes and victims," it said. A statement from President Hamid Karzai said an eight-member team of tribal and community elders would investigate the reported civilian casualties.
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.
"How can you compensate people who have lost their sons and daughters?"
'Human shields'
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. The elders would also make suggestions on how to prevent such "unfortunate" incidents in future and ensure better co-ordination with foreign forces.
"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.
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.
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.