Monday, September 8, 2008 - 07:00
AFP News Briefs ListUS to re-investigate Afghan civilian deaths
The most senior US general in Afghanistan has asked for another inquiry into US-led coalition air strikes in which Afghan UN teams say 90 civilians, most of them children, were killed.
The US-led coalition has steadfastly rejected the civilian toll from the August 22 strikes on the western village of Azizabad, in Shindand district, saying only five to seven civilians were killed along with 30-35 Taliban.
US General David McKiernan said in a statement late Sunday there was "emerging evidence" about the incident.
In light of this, "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 the new evidence," he said.
McKiernan heads the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, which works alongside the coalition, but is the most senior US commander in Afghanistan.
If the toll of 90 is confirmed, it would be one of the deadliest such incidents since the United States led troops into Afghanistan seven years ago to remove the Taliban from government and round up extremist militants.
The Afghan government says that there was video footage backing up its claim of more than 90 dead which is with its intelligence agency. A Western official also says he has seen footage that clearly shows children among the dead.
Images
US General David McKiernan, the most senior US general in Afghanistan, has asked for another inquiry into US-led coalition air strikes in which Afghan UN teams say 90 civilians, most of them children, were killed.
© 2007 AFP Shah Marai
