KABUL Sept 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. military said it has new evidence of civilian deaths in a coalition air strike in western Afghanistan last month, and is sending an officer to review the findings.

The U.S. military had earlier disputed an Afghan government allegation that more than 90 people, many of them women and children, died in the Aug. 22 raid in western Herat's Shindand district, a figure backed by the United Nations

But late on Sunday, the military issued a statement saying it was seeking a review of its original finding that 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, senior US officer in Afghanistan said.

He did not say what new evidence had emerged. (Reporting by Sanjeev Miglani; Editing by Bill Tarrant)

AlertNet news is provided by