US-led forces mistakenly kill Afghans

Kandahar: At least six Afghan policemen and one civilian were killed when US-led coalition forces mistakenly fired on them in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, the US military and police said.

The forces were targeting a Taliban commander when they struck the allies, in what is the third recent incident of friendly fire.

"One local national and six Afghan national police were killed in Qalat district in Zabul province, during an operation targeting a known Taliban commander," said Lieutenant Commander Walter Matthews, a spokesman for the US military in Kabul.

Thirteen others were also wounded, he said, adding that the military deeply regrets the incident.

Both Afghan police and US-led coalition forces opened fire on each other because of mistaken identity, Matthews said. It was not clear who opened fire first.

The Afghan Defence and Interior Ministries, together with the US military, are conducting a joint investigation into the incident.