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| Afghanistan |
| Australian troops kill two children in Afghanistan |
| 2013-03-03 |
| Australian soldiers in southern Afghanistan gunned down two children tending cattle in an incident likely to increase tensions over the conduct of international troops. The two children, aged seven and eight, were killed on Thursday morning as the soldiers fought back after a Taliban attack in Uruzgan province, said provincial governor Amir Mohammad Akhundzada. He said, “The children were killed by Australian troops, it was a mistaken incident, not a deliberate one.” He added that insurgents had first shot at a helicopter carrying Australian soldiers. NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) expressed its “deep regret” over the deaths and said it remained committed to minimizing civilian casualties. In a statement, General Joseph Dunford, commander of ISAF, said, “I offer my personal apology and condolences to the family of the boys who were killed. I am committed to ensuring we do the right thing for the families of those we harmed, as well as for the community in which they lived. We take full responsibility for this tragedy.” ISAF said the troops had opened fire at what they thought were insurgent forces. It added that a joint Afghan-ISAF team visited Shahidi Hassas district in Uruzgan on Saturday to investigate and meet with local leaders. |
| Posted by:ryuge |