Dozens of Afghani Civilians Killed by US Forces in Paktika

US-led forces kill 4 Afghan civilians

ABC, Australia, Reuters, Posted Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:13pm AEST

US-led forces have killed four Afghan civilians, including two women and a boy, in an operation against the (Taliban fighters) in the south-eastern province of Paktika, the US military said in a statement.

But some people who introduced themselves by phone as residents told reporters that dozens of civilians were killed in late Tuesday's air attacks in Mata Khan district of the province which lies near the border with Pakistan.

Afghan provincial officials declined to confirm or deny the accounts.

The operation, in which several (Taliban fighters) were killed, was aimed at two (Taliban) leaders, the US military said in its statement, without identifying the pair.

"The operation also resulted in four civilian deaths and one civilian injury," it said, adding the fatalities included two women and a boy.

The soldiers detained 12 (alleged Taliban fighters) in the operation, it said. The Taliban Movement, who leads the (fighting) against the Government and foreign troops under the command of NATO, as well as the US military, could not be reached immediately for comment.

Civilian casualties are a highly sensitive issue for the Government and foreign troops based in the country since US-led forces overthrew the Taliban in 2001.

Analysts say civilian casualties can strengthen support for the Taliban in the countryside and feed resentment of Western-backed President Hamid Karzai and foreign forces in general.

More than 520 civilians were killed during operations by foreign troops against the Taliban last year alone, according to aid groups and some Afghan officials.

A UN Human Rights rapporteur last month said about 200 civilians have been killed by foreign and Afghan forces since the start of 2008.

Mr Karzai has repeatedly called on foreign forces to do everything they can to avoid killing civilians.

The Taliban-led (fighters) have also caused a number of civilian deaths, especially as they increasingly resort to suicide bombings and roadside bombs.

The Taliban fighters have vowed to step up their war to expel foreign troops and violence has escalated in the past two years, the bloodiest period since the Taliban's removal from power (as a result of the 2001 US invasion).

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/11/2271936.htm

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