Afghan President Says NATO Rocket Killed 52 Civilians
VOA News
26 July 2010
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says a NATO rocket attack in southern Afghanistan has killed 52 civilians, including women and children.
Mr. Karzai said Monday that an investigation by the Afghan intelligence service found that the rocket hit a home in the Sangin district of Helmand province last Friday.
Afghan officials say the civilians had taken refuge in a house to escape fighting between NATO-led forces and Taliban insurgents.
NATO released a statement Monday saying a joint investigation with the Afghan government has so far found no evidence of civilians hurt or killed.
The alliance said a joint international and Afghan force came under attack from insurgents near the village of Rigi on Friday. NATO says forces responded with attack helicopters and missiles, which it says struck the intended target. At least six insurgents, including a Taliban commander, were killed.
Civilian casualties caused by foreign troops are a major cause of friction between Mr. Karzai and his Western allies.
Also Monday, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff reassured tribal leaders in Kandahar city that the U.S. commitment to stabilize Afghanistan will last far beyond July 2011, when U.S. troops are set to begin withdrawing from the country.
Admiral Mike Mullen also told community leaders that a surge of U.S.-led NATO troops in Kandahar will bring security to the area, but acknowledged that violence would likely increase in the short term.
During his visit, Admiral Mullen stopped at a police station where American forces train Afghan police to take on Taliban fighters.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
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