NATO disputes civilian-death reports

Burning tires block a road between Kabul and Kandahar. Protesters were demanding a stop to night raids. (Associated Press)

By Rahim Faiez, Associated Press

Posted: May 28, 2012

KABUL, Afghanistan - The U.S.-led coalition on Sunday disputed reports that eight civilians, including children, were killed in a NATO air strike in a remote part of eastern Afghanistan.

Afghan officials said an air strike Saturday night killed eight members of a family, but a senior NATO official said that so far, there is no evidence of any civilian casualties. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose the information.

Both Afghan President Hamid Karzai and NATO commanders ordered an investigation into the reports, according to the New York Times.

Separately, NATO reported that three coalition service members were killed Sunday in eastern Afghanistan - two during an insurgent attack and one from a roadside bombing.

The coalition said it was working to find out more about allegations that civilians were killed in the NATO operation that foreign forces were conducting Saturday night in Paktia province.

The killing of civilians by foreign forces has been a major irritant in Karzai's relationship with his international partners. He had warned this month that civilian casualties could undermine a strategic partnership with the United States that is to govern long-term relations after most international troops withdraw by the end of 2014.

Karzai appointed a delegation to travel to Paktia province and determine what happened.

Frequently, Afghan and coalition officials offer differing accounts of military operations. In those cases, local residents claim civilians were killed, while the coalition says the victims had been identified as insurgents. If investigations prove that civilians were inadvertently killed, the coalition acknowledges its mistake.

Rohullah Samon, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said Mohammad Shafi, his wife, and their six children were killed in the air strike.

"Shafi was not a Taliban. He was not in any opposition group against the government. He was a villager," Samon said.