US military to review Afghan civilian deaths

Kabul: The United States military said it will send an officer to Afghanistan to review new evidence of civilian deaths in a coalition airstrike last month.

The military had earlier disputed an Afghan government claim that more than 90 people, including women and children, were killed in a raid in Shindand district in western Herat on August 22.

Late on Sunday, the military issued a statement saying it was seeking a review of its original finding that only five to seven civilians had died in the operation.

"In light of emerging evidence pertaining to civilian casualties in the Aug. 22 counter-insurgency operation in the Shindand District, Herat province, I feel it is prudent to request that US Central Command send a general officer to review the US investigation and its findings with respect to this new evidence," General David McKiernan, a senior US officer in Afghanistan said, without detailing what new evidence had emerged.