60 civilians killed in Nato raid
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60 civilians killed in Nato raid
Jackie Dent and agencies
Thursday October 26, 2006
Guardian Unlimited
Officials in Afghanistan were today investigating the possible deaths of 60 civilians during a Nato and Afghan army offensive in the south of the country.
At least 48 insurgents were killed in a day of fighting in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province on Tuesday.
Major Luke Knitig, a spokesman for the international security assistance force, said 60 dead bodies had been discovered, but it was "very unclear" whether they were civilians or insurgents.
The possible civilian deaths, which a UN statement said were in the village of Nangawat, happened during Eid, the festival marking the end of Ramadan.
Bismallah Afghanmal, a Kandahar provincial council member, told the Associated Press that between 80 and 85 people had been killed. A villager, Karim Jan, said between 60 and 70 had died.
"It was late at night - that might be the reason they didn't know where to bomb," Agha Lalai, another member of the provincial council, told Reuters. "They have bombed residential houses."
Witnesses told Reuters that 25 homes were demolished during four to five hours of bombing.
Maj Knitig said Nato troops had been engaged in heavy fighting against insurgents in three separate incidents in Panjwayi on Tuesday. The battle included air strikes.
He said that while there was a confirmed insurgent death toll of 48, that number could eventually be as high as 70, adding that insurgents had been attacking bases providing security for aid projects in the area.
In a statement, the UN mission in Afghanistan said it was concerned by reports that a "great number of civilians may have died during the conduct of military operations".
"The safety and welfare of civilians must always come first, and any civilian casualties are unacceptable, without exception," the statement said.
An estimated 32,000 international security assistance force troops are currently involved in security and reconstruction projects in Afghanistan.
Despite democratic elections last year, the country has become increasingly unstable, with Taliban and other militants stepping up attacks against government officials and international forces.
Jackie Dent and agencies
Thursday October 26, 2006
Guardian Unlimited
Officials in Afghanistan were today investigating the possible deaths of 60 civilians during a Nato and Afghan army offensive in the south of the country.
At least 48 insurgents were killed in a day of fighting in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province on Tuesday.
Major Luke Knitig, a spokesman for the international security assistance force, said 60 dead bodies had been discovered, but it was "very unclear" whether they were civilians or insurgents.
The possible civilian deaths, which a UN statement said were in the village of Nangawat, happened during Eid, the festival marking the end of Ramadan.
Bismallah Afghanmal, a Kandahar provincial council member, told the Associated Press that between 80 and 85 people had been killed. A villager, Karim Jan, said between 60 and 70 had died.
"It was late at night - that might be the reason they didn't know where to bomb," Agha Lalai, another member of the provincial council, told Reuters. "They have bombed residential houses."
Witnesses told Reuters that 25 homes were demolished during four to five hours of bombing.
Maj Knitig said Nato troops had been engaged in heavy fighting against insurgents in three separate incidents in Panjwayi on Tuesday. The battle included air strikes.
He said that while there was a confirmed insurgent death toll of 48, that number could eventually be as high as 70, adding that insurgents had been attacking bases providing security for aid projects in the area.
In a statement, the UN mission in Afghanistan said it was concerned by reports that a "great number of civilians may have died during the conduct of military operations".
"The safety and welfare of civilians must always come first, and any civilian casualties are unacceptable, without exception," the statement said.
An estimated 32,000 international security assistance force troops are currently involved in security and reconstruction projects in Afghanistan.
Despite democratic elections last year, the country has become increasingly unstable, with Taliban and other militants stepping up attacks against government officials and international forces.
www.amnesty.org
www.amnesty.org.uk
www.amnesty.org.uk
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www.myspace.com/jensvad
i think the point here is that 60 people have died.
war, what is it good for?
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there, feel better?
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