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Afghanistan probes reports of more civilian deaths

NATO disputes Afghan govt report on civilian casualties
Kabul (AFP) Dec 31, 2009 - NATO forces fighting in Afghanistan on Wednesday disputed the results of an Afghan government investigation that found ten unarmed civilians including teenagers had been shot dead by Western forces. In an incident that has inflamed public anger and strained ties between the Kabul administration and the Western military protecting it, President Hamid Karzai accused international forces of shooting dead 10 people, most members of the same family and eight of them teenagers. The incident took place in eastern Kunar province late on Saturday, and sparked demonstrations in two cities on Wednesday, which saw protesters burning the US flag and calling for foreign troops to quit Afghanistan.

The US and NATO have 113,000 troops fighting Taliban-linked militants, in a war that has lasted eight years and is becoming increasingly lethal, for civilians as well as combatants. NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said Wednesday there was "no direct evidence to substantiate" the findings of investigators that unarmed civilians were killed in "a joint coalition and Afghan security force" operation. "On 26 December, a joint coalition and Afghan security force entered the village of Ghazi Khan in the Narang district of Kunar province, in order to locate a known insurgent group responsible for a series of violent attacks in the area," the ISAF statement said. "As the joint assault force entered the village, they came under fire from several buildings and in returning fire killed nine individuals. "Several assault rifles, ammunition and ammonium nitrate used in bomb-making were discovered," it said.

A senior Western military official said the international forces involved in the operation were "US non-military" but could give no further details. But, he said, "it was a sanctioned operation". "They were shot at, and they shot back. It was self-defence, there was a shoot-out," he told AFP, speaking on condition that he wouldn't be identified. US Special Forces, which had been conducting operations in the Kunar border regions with Pakistan, were not involved as had been earlier thought, he said. ISAF said it had requested a joint investigation of the incident.
by Staff Writers
 Kandahar, Afghanistan (AFP) Dec 31, 2009
 Afghan authorities said Thursday they were investigating reports of civilian deaths in a NATO air strike, as fresh protests erupted over the alleged killing of 10 non-combatants.

The probe was launched into reports that nine civilians were killed in a NATO air strike near the town of Lashkar Gah in the troubled southern province of Helmand on Wednesday.

Sensitivities about civilian casualties allegedly caused by NATO or US-led operations have driven a wedge between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his backers in the international military.

The United States and NATO have 113,000 troops fighting Taliban-linked militants in a war now into a ninth year and becoming increasingly lethal, for civilians as well as combatants.

Karzai has said that members of foreign forces shot dead unarmed civilians, including eight teenagers, in the northeastern province of Kunar on Saturday.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) denied the dead were unarmed and has said that no NATO or US military personnel were involved in the incident.

A senior military official said on condition of anonymity that the deaths occurred in a "sanctioned operation" by US non-military personnel who shot back in self-defence.

Around 1,500 people took to the streets for the latest in a string of protests over the alleged killings, using sticks to beat an effigy of US President Barack Obama and shouting "death to Obama", witnesses said.

Hundreds of students led the peaceful march through Asadabad, capital of Kunar, chanting "death to America," "death to Britain and those who killed the students", witnesses said.

"We want the perpetrators brought to justice. The coalition forces must stop unilateral operations and all joint operations must be conducted during the day, rather than at night so their targets are clear," said organiser Abdul Wahab.

Daud Ahmadi, a spokesman for Helmand governor Gulab Mangal, told AFP that civilians had been killed in the Lashkar Gar bombing, but he had no figures or other details.

"We know civilians have been killed but we don't know how many. The governor has sent a delegation to the area to provide some cash support to the victims' families and investigate the incident," Ahmadi said.

Mohammad Alam, who said he had taken a wounded man to the city's hospital, said villagers had gathered to discuss water distribution when the air strike took place late Wednesday.

"We'd gathered in the village to discuss water. All of a sudden the area was bombed, eight people were killed on the spot, another was wounded whom I brought to hospital, he died later," he said.

Ahmadi said the air strike was launched after troops came under fire from the same village.

The war of words over civilian casualties came as the Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a US base that killed eight US civilians, and after a bomb attack killed five Canadians, including a reporter.


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THE STANS
US special forces step up Afghan operations
 Washington (AFP) Dec 26, 2009
 US special forces have stepped up counterterrorism missions against some of the most lethal groups in Afghanistan and plan an even bigger expansion next year, The New York Times reported late Saturday. Citing unnamed US military commanders, the newspaper said the commandos from the Army's Delta Force and the Navy's classified Seals units have had success weakening the network of Sirajuddin ... read more






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