Afghan President calls on NATO general to explain civilian deaths (second time in three days)

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General: "We make mistakes."

KABUL (AP) -- The top U.S. general in Afghanistan says apologies and all the money "in the world" aren't enough to compensate for the loss of even one Afghan civilian.

But Gen. David McKiernan says coalition forces do make mistakes and, he says, "for that I apologize."

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KABUL (AP) —

Karzai asked Gen. David McKiernan to explain the reported deaths of six civilians in two incidents, Karzai's office said late Saturday. It was the second time in three days Karzai brought up the topic with McKiernan. On Thursday, the U.S. general was summoned to the presidential palace to explain other deaths.

Karzai's office said three civilians were killed by international forces in Helmand province on Friday. The NATO-led force said three people were killed when its forces fired on a vehicle from which a man who was "posing a threat" was exiting. Two people inside the vehicle were also killed, it said.

"The death of a single innocent Afghan is a tragedy," said Capt. Mark Durkin, a spokesman for the NATO-led force. An investigation is under way, he said.

Karzai said three civilians, including a woman, also were killed in Logar province. The NATO-led force said in a statement that three militants were killed Saturday during an operation in Logar.

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