World | Afghanistan
Karzai says 17 civilians killed in US operation in east Afghanistan
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says a clash between US-led troops and insurgents in eastern Afghanistan killed 17 civilians, including women and children. The American military insisted all 32 killed in the fighting were militants.
- AP
- Published: 16:27 January 8, 2009
Kabul: Afghan President Hamid Karzai says a clash between US-led troops and insurgents in eastern Afghanistan killed 17 civilians, including women and children. The American military insisted all 32 killed in the fighting were militants.
In a statement, Karzai blamed the "terrorists" for using civilians as human shields in their battles with foreign troops, but also repeated a demand that coalition troops stop fighting in Afghan villages.
The US military, however, said that all those killed in Tuesday's battle were militants involved with a bomb-making cell in Laghman province's Alishing district.
Col. Jerry O'Hara, a US military spokesman said, "We held (a meeting) with local government officials after the operation and local Afghan leaders confirmed that all 32 killed in this operation were hostile militants."
Share this article
Related Articles
Afghanistan
Karzai: Corrupt ones not in new government
Nato strike kills 7 at coalition base
Afghan soldiers killed by NATO airstrike
Two members of Nato's Afghan forces missing
Brown warns Afghanistan to stamp out corruption
UN pulls half its staff out of Afghanistan
UN relocating staff after attack
UN pulls out staff after Afghan attack
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
Daughters: Book on Sadat 'one-sided'
Pictorial collection excludes children from first wife
-
Over 6,000 Haj pilgrims to get vaccines
H1N1 and meningitis jabs compulsory for those going to Makkah in Saudi Arabia
-
Abu Dhabi residential city on track
Abu Dhabi Municipality says Dh651m infrastructure project to be completed
