Iran expresses disappointment over NATO air strikes on civilians
ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency
1390/03/10
05-31-2011
12:58:24
News Code :9003-07035
TEHRAN (ISNA)-Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast voiced disappointment on Tuesday at NATO attack in Helmand Province, Afghanistan which claimed lives of some civilians.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) helicopters killed 14 women and children in a bungled airstrike in Helmand Province.
Mehmanparast said NATO forces have been deployed in Afghanistan for 10 years and added, "escalating extremism, violence and drug cultivation as well as increased civilian victims have been gains of continuous NATO presence in Afghanistan."
"Killing of defenseless civilians in Afghanistan by those who sent troops to the country under the excuse of establishment of security has made Afghans more resolute to pursue their demand which is withdrawal of the forces from their country," the spokesman added.
Ha expressed hope Afghans would witness a secure and stable Afghanistan through withdrawal of foreign troops and full sovereignty of Afghan authorities.
Also Afghan President Hamid Karzai said, "NATO must learn that air strikes on Afghan homes are not allowed and that Afghan people have no tolerance for that anymore."
His remarks came after NATO air strikes on a compound in southern Helmand on Sunday.
Karzai warned that Afghans had had enough of the tactics, which he said were a violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty.
"If they don't stop air strikes on Afghan homes, their presence in Afghanistan will be considered as an occupying force and against the will of the Afghan people," Karzai said.
Karzai added he had warned NATO commanders "a hundred times."
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