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/6089862.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Nato confirms Afghan raid deaths Nato confirms Afghan raid deaths
(about 1 hour later)
Nato has confirmed that at least 12 civilians were killed in an air strike targeting Taleban militants in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday.Nato has confirmed that at least 12 civilians were killed in an air strike targeting Taleban militants in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday.
Reports suggest at least 40 civilians died when a nomad camp was hit in Kandahar province's Panjwayi district.Reports suggest at least 40 civilians died when a nomad camp was hit in Kandahar province's Panjwayi district.
A team of tribal and community elders will hold an inquiry, Afghan President Hamid Karzai's office said.A team of tribal and community elders will hold an inquiry, Afghan President Hamid Karzai's office said.
Nato has said 48 Taleban fighters were killed in three raids, but the Taleban have denied losing any men. On Friday, at least 14 people died in Uruzgan province when their bus struck a roadside bomb, officials said.
Local police and officials confirmed more than 40 people were killed in a Nato raid, Afghan interior ministry spokesman Zmarai Bashiry told the BBC. It was not immediately clear what kind of the bomb caused the blast, or who planted it.
Other local officials put the death toll at between 60 and 85.
One Afghan survivor told the BBC that those attacked were nomads who had been living outside a village in tents.
'Things go wrong''Things go wrong'
Nato forces are the main component in Isaf, the international force deployed in Afghanistan. Nato has said 48 Taleban fighters were killed in three raids in Kandahar province, but the Taleban have denied losing any men.
Local police and officials confirmed more than 40 people were killed in one of the Nato raids, Afghan interior ministry spokesman Zmarai Bashiry told the BBC.
Other local officials put the death toll at between 60 and 85.
One Afghan survivor told the BBC that those attacked were nomads who had been living outside a village in tents. Nato forces are the main component in Isaf, the international force deployed in Afghanistan.
A spokesman, Capt Andre Salloum, told AFP news agency:A spokesman, Capt Andre Salloum, told AFP news agency:
"As soon as the battle ended, troops on the ground were able to identify 12 civilians.""As soon as the battle ended, troops on the ground were able to identify 12 civilians."
Nato forces were working with the Afghan defence ministry to conduct further investigations, he added.Nato forces were working with the Afghan defence ministry to conduct further investigations, he added.
Another Nato spokesman, Mark Laity, said the troops sought to take maximum care to avoid civilian casualties.Another Nato spokesman, Mark Laity, said the troops sought to take maximum care to avoid civilian casualties.
"We've got tight rules of engagement but sometimes things go wrong..." he said."We've got tight rules of engagement but sometimes things go wrong..." he said.
"President Karzai quite understandably and correctly wants us to show maximum care - that's what we do.""President Karzai quite understandably and correctly wants us to show maximum care - that's what we do."
Deadly 'mistakes'Deadly 'mistakes'
Residents in Panjwayi say the bombing began on Tuesday and continued into the night.Residents in Panjwayi say the bombing began on Tuesday and continued into the night.
Nato says it routed the Taleban in battles in SeptemberNato says it routed the Taleban in battles in September
Local people as well as district officials have described buildings destroyed by aerial bombings during the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan.Local people as well as district officials have described buildings destroyed by aerial bombings during the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan.
"The planes came and were bombing 3 AM," one man said. "The planes came and were bombing 3am," one man said.
"And, in the morning, they started hitting our village with mortars and rockets. They didn't allow anybody to come to our help.""And, in the morning, they started hitting our village with mortars and rockets. They didn't allow anybody to come to our help."
People told the BBC that the bodies of many locals had been pulled from the rubble of their homes and buried.People told the BBC that the bodies of many locals had been pulled from the rubble of their homes and buried.
One local man who did not want to reveal his name said 20 members of his family had been killed and 10 injured.One local man who did not want to reveal his name said 20 members of his family had been killed and 10 injured.
He said that a nomad camp with no connection to the Taleban had been attacked:He said that a nomad camp with no connection to the Taleban had been attacked:
"There are no Taleban here. We live outside the village in an open area in tents."There are no Taleban here. We live outside the village in an open area in tents.
"Anyone can come here to see our homes and area. There are no Taleban here. We all are nomads living in tents."Anyone can come here to see our homes and area. There are no Taleban here. We all are nomads living in tents.
"Each time they say that it was a mistake. They have destroyed us all in such mistakes. For God's sake, come and see our situation.""Each time they say that it was a mistake. They have destroyed us all in such mistakes. For God's sake, come and see our situation."
Karzai under pressureKarzai under pressure
President Karzai's office said his investigators would make suggestions on how to prevent such "unfortunate" incidents in future and ensure better co-ordination with foreign forces.President Karzai's office said his investigators would make suggestions on how to prevent such "unfortunate" incidents in future and ensure better co-ordination with foreign forces.
Mr Karzai has been under mounting pressure over civilian deaths and has urged foreign forces to exercise more caution.Mr 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.
The UN mission in Afghanistan has voiced serious concern about the Panjwayi deaths.The UN mission in Afghanistan has voiced serious concern about the Panjwayi deaths.