[Marxism] US-led coalition kills 13 more Afghan civilians

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/21/afghanistan.deaths/index.html

U.S.-led coalition kills 13 Afghan civilians
Story Highlights
Military operation kills 13 civilians, three militants, U.S. says

Coalition offers condolences, helps identify victims

Weapons and ammunition found at site of attack

Afghan president has expressed dismay, anger over civilian casualties

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Thirteen people, described by the U.S. military
as "noncombatants," were killed in western Afghanistan earlier this week
during a coalition operation, the military said Saturday.

"We expressed our deepest condolences to the survivors of the noncombatants
who were killed during this operation," said Brig. Gen. Michael Ryan, U.S.
Forces-Afghanistan.

Three militants also died in Tuesday's operation in the Gozara district of
Herat province, the military said.

The killings further inflame Afghans' anger and frustration over the killing
of civilians in U.S.-led coalition and NATO operations. Many civilians also
die in the crossfire between coalition forces and Taliban militants. Watch
the challenge coalition forces face >

Afghan and coalition investigators and international observers this week
were in Herat this week. Weapons and ammunition were found at the site of
the operation and Afghan soldiers held shuras, or consultative bodies, with
village leaders.

Ryan discussed the attack with senior police and army officials and with the
governor of Herat.

"Our inquiry in Herat demonstrates how seriously we take our responsibility
in conducting operations against militant targets and the occurrence of
noncombatant casualties," Ryan said.

"Our concern is for the security of the Afghan people. To this end, we
continually evaluate the operations we conduct during the course of our
mission in Afghanistan and have agreed to coordinate our efforts jointly."

President Hamid Karzai raised the issue of civilian casualties during a
meeting he had on Saturday with visiting U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

A "recent consensus between the Afghan government and NATO, which gives more
authority to the Afghan security forces during military operations, house
searches and detention of suspected individuals, will help in reducing
civilian casualties and bringing more effectiveness in the fight against
terrorism," Karzai said. 
 
  
 

  

 
 
  

       
 

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