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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Karzai 'sadness' at raid deaths | Karzai 'sadness' at raid deaths |
| (6 days later) | |
| 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. | 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 at least 12 civilians were killed in an air strike targeting Taleban militants on Tuesday. | Nato has confirmed that at least 12 civilians were killed in an air strike targeting Taleban militants on Tuesday. |
| But the government said initial investigations suggested 25 civilians died in the raid in south Afghanistan. | But the government said initial investigations suggested 25 civilians died in the raid in south Afghanistan. |
| Mr Karzai has called for a meeting on Monday with foreign force commanders to discuss the incident. | Mr Karzai has called for a meeting on Monday with foreign force commanders to discuss the incident. |
| Also on Friday, 14 people died in Uruzgan province when their bus struck a mine, officials said. | Also on Friday, 14 people died in Uruzgan province when their bus struck a mine, officials said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| A Nato spokesman said it was not clear if the mine was old or had been planted recently by insurgents. | A Nato spokesman said it was not clear if the mine was old or had been planted recently by insurgents. |
| 'Hurt and saddened' | 'Hurt and saddened' |
| Mr Karzai responded to Tuesday's deaths during a news conference at the presidential palace. | Mr 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. | "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". | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Things go wrong' | 'Things go wrong' |
| 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." |
| Each time they say that it was a mistake... they have destroyed us all in such mistakes Local resident | Each time they say that it was a mistake... they have destroyed us all in such mistakes Local resident |
| 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. |
| 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 pressure | Karzai 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. |
| Mr Karzai is coming under pressure over civilian deaths | Mr Karzai is coming under pressure over civilian deaths |
| 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. He has repeatedly 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. | 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. |