| Submit your comments on this article |
| Afghanistan |
| 6 civilians among 54 killed in NATO raid: Afghan official |
| 2009-09-07 |
| Six civilians, including a child, were among 54 people killed in a NATO airstrike in Afghanistan that targeted two fuel tankers hijacked by the Taliban, a local official said on Sunday. The driver of one of the trucks and his son were killed separately by the Taliban, Kunduz Governor Mohammad Omar said. "According to our findings, 56 people were killed. Forty-eight men were identified as armed while the rest were civilians. Fifteen were wounded, including two Taliban," Omar said, adding that of the six civilians, one was a child killed inside one of the tankers.Afghan officials have given different death tolls related to the Taliban hijacking and the NATO airstrike, and precise figures are difficult to clarify. "All I know is that 56 were killed and 15 were wounded. I don't have the report of how many of them were civilians," said Kunduz provincial police chief General Abdul Razak Yaqubi. The strike destroyed two fuel tankers hijacked by gunmen as villagers were clamouring to collect free fuel at the Taliban's invitation, witnesses said. While officials insisted most of the dead were militants, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said any targeting of civilians was unacceptable and sent a delegation to investigate. |
| Posted by:Fred |