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Karzai condemns civilian deaths Karzai 'sadness' at raid deaths
(about 3 hours later)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has strongly condemned the deaths of at least 12 civilians in a Nato air raid. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said the Afghan people are "hurt and saddened" by the deaths of a number of civilians in a Nato air raid.
Nato has confirmed that the 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 on Tuesday.
Mr Karzai said he would hold talks with international figures to discuss avoiding such events in future. But the government said initial investigations suggested 25 civilians died in the raid in south Afghanistan.
Reports suggest at least 40 civilians died when a nomads' camp was hit in Kandahar province's Panjwayi district. On Friday, 14 people died in Uruzgan province when their bus struck a mine, officials said.
The Afghan president told a news conference foreign pilots did not always distinguish between Taleban fighters and civilians. The dead were mainly children and old people travelling to a picnic in celebration of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, a local official said.
In some cases, foreign pilots even bombed members of their own forces, he added, referring to a so-called "friendly fire" incident in which a Canadian soldier was killed after US planes fired on Nato soldiers in September. A Nato spokesman said it was not clear if the mine was old or had been planted recently by insurgents.
Mr Karzai is coming under pressure over civilian deathsMr Karzai responded to Tuesday's deaths during a news conference at the presidential palace.
"We share solidarity with the families of the victims and the people of Afghanistan are hurt and saddened by this incident," he said.
He called on the international community to help strengthen Afghanistan's forces - particularly to help develop an air force - in order to "prevent these sorts of incidents from happening again".
Nato has said 48 Taleban fighters were killed in three raids in Kandahar province on Tuesday, but the Taleban have denied losing any men.Nato has said 48 Taleban fighters were killed in three raids in Kandahar province on Tuesday, but the Taleban have denied losing any men.
'Things go wrong''Things go wrong'
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. Local police and officials said more than 40 people were killed in one of the raids, Afghan interior ministry spokesman Zmarai Bashiry told the BBC.
Other local officials put the death toll at between 60 and 85.Other local officials put the death toll at between 60 and 85.
Nato forces are the main component in Isaf, the international force deployed in Afghanistan.Nato forces are the main component in Isaf, the international force deployed in Afghanistan.
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."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."
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, during the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan.Residents in Panjwayi say the bombing began on Tuesday and continued into the night, during the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan.
Nato says it routed the Taleban in battles in SeptemberNato says it routed the Taleban in battles in September
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.
"Anyone can come here to see our homes and area. There are no Taleban here. We all are nomads living in tents," he said."Anyone can come here to see our homes and area. There are no Taleban here. We all are nomads living in tents," he said.
"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
A team of tribal and community elders would hold an inquiry, Mr Karzai's office said.A team of tribal and community elders would hold an inquiry, Mr Karzai's office said.
It said Mr Karzai's investigators would make suggestions on how to prevent such "unfortunate" incidents in future and ensure better co-ordination with foreign forces.It said Mr Karzai's 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. He has repeatedly urged foreign forces to exercise more caution.
But correspondents say the fact that such incidents keep happening is eroding public confidence in his ability to pressure the international forces which support his government.
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.