Afghanistan probes civilian deaths claim: ministry

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

KABUL (AFP) - Afghanistan authorities said Monday they were investigating claims by provincial officials that up to 33 civilians were killed in a weekend offensive by US-led troops.

The defence ministry said it could not confirm that civilians were killed in the raids by US and Afghan forces in the eastern province of Nuristan, a known stronghold of Taliban-led militants.

The US-led coalition had earlier reported "significant" insurgent casualties during the operation.

Mohammad Aleem, Nuristan deputy governor, told AFP that 33 civilians, including women and children, were killed and dozens more injured in the day-long operation in the mountainous province's Do'aab district.

District chief Qari Daud put the death toll at 28, all of them civilians.



Read more: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080407/world/afghanistan_unrest_772

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16 die in strike against Afghan warlord
By AMIR SHAH, Associated Press Writer
5 minutes ago



KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S. and Afghan forces attacked a remote village in a mountainous region of northeastern Afghanistan following reports that an infamous insurgent leader was in the area, a governor said Monday. At least 16 people were killed.

Gov. Tamim Nuristani said U.S.-led coalition and Afghan forces believed Gulbuddin Hekmatyar was meeting with top deputy Kashmir Khan in the Dohabi district of Nuristan province on Sunday, sparking a fierce bombardment that included airstrikes.

Other provincial leaders say many civilians were killed in the hours-long clash, which included airstrikes in the remote villages of Shok and Kendal. Nuristani said it was too early to know if any of the 16 killed were civilians. His casualty figures came from police who had reached the remote district.

U.S. officials and the Afghan Defense Ministry have denied that any civilians were killed.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080407/ap_on_re_as/afghanistan

[High Plains]

1. More dead Afghan civilians, ho-hum, who cares?

I'll check back in on this little imperial misadventure in a few years to see how winning those hearts and minds is coming along.

[happygoluckytoyou]

2. BUSH - CHENEY CONVERSATION

DICK: SO MR PRESIDENT... WE SHOULD DROP MORE BOMBS ON AFGHANISTAN
OTHER DICK: BUT WHAT OF THE MEDIA ?
DICK: SO? WE KILL 33 AFGHAN CIVILIANS AND A PINK CAMEL
OTHER DICK: A PINK CAMEL ?
DICK: SEE, MR PRESIDENT, I TOLD YOU NOBODY WOULD ASK ABOUT THE CIVILIANS


john "the republican" mccain.... bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb whatever... i wannt bomb something!!!