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Reports: US Officials Admit Air Strikes Killed Afghan Civilians

By VOA News
08 May 2009

U.S. news reports say officials are acknowledging U.S. responsibility for at least some of the civilian deaths in western Afghanistan this week that sparked outraged protests by local residents.

The New York Times and CNN both quote defense officials in Washington saying preliminary investigations found that U.S. air strikes in western Farah province did kill civilians.

The officials were not identified, but the reports said investigators in Kabul hope to brief reporters about their findings within a day or two.

A military spokesman said investigators are still evaluating the evidence and have not yet reached a conclusion. But he also said reports of the death toll have been "grossly exaggerated."

Local Afghan officials have said that the air strikes and related fighting on Monday and Tuesday killed more than 100 people, and possibly as many as 147.

Dozens of protesters clashed with police Thursday in Farah's main city during a demonstration against the civilian deaths.

Police fired their guns in an effort to disperse stone-throwing protesters outside government buildings. Officials said four people were wounded in the scuffle, including one who was shot.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed regret at the casualties allegedly caused by the air strikes and said a joint U.S.-Afghan team is investigating the civilian deaths in Bala Bulak.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai told reporters in Washington Thursday that civilian casualties cause "pain to Afghans." Mr. Karzai expressed hope that the U.S. military will address the issue soon.

Amnesty International emphasized the need for a transparent investigation. It released a statement Thursday saying that if the figures are verified, the civilian death toll from the attack in Farah will be one of the highest since the Taliban was ousted in 2001.

Gates said civilian casualties are down 40 percent in Afghanistan since the beginning of this year, while casualties among foreign and Afghan security forces are up 75 percent. He said the coalition is working to reduce civilian casualties.

Gates arrived in Afghanistan Wednesday.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.