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Afghans accept U.S. probe offer on civilian deaths
Source: Reuters
(Adds details, background) KABUL, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Afghanistan has accepted a U.S. proposal for a tripartite investigation into civilian casualties from a coalition air strike in western Herat province last month, a foreign ministry official said on Wednesday. The U.S. military has disputed the toll of 96 civilians the Afghan government and the United Nations said were killed in the raid in Shindand district, saying five to seven civilians were killed. "The government has agreed to take part in the investigations involving the government, international forces and the U.N since there is this difference over the figures (casualties)," Foreign Ministry spokesman Sultan Ahmad Baheen said. Public anger has been mounting in recent days in Afghanistan over allegations of civilian casualties, including children, and opened up a rift between the Afghan government and the foreign coalition forces. President Hamid Karzai, under increasing pressure to stop civilian casualties, called for a review of combat operations by foreign forces following the air strikes in Herat. Baheen said a government commission appointed by Karzai to review the presence of foreign troops had begun to draw up a set of rules involving operations of foreign forces in the country. "It is trying to find ways so that we can avoid civilian casualties," he said. The U.S. military said its investigation into the Shindand operation found 30 to 35 Taliban militants were killed, including a local commander, and there was evidence the militants were planning to attack a nearby coalition forces' base. Western military officials say Taliban fighters deliberately use civilians as cover, drawing coalition firepower onto non-combatants in an attempt to reap propaganda gains. More than 500 civilians have been killed during operations by foreign and Afghan forces against the militants so far this year, according to the Afghan government and some aid groups. (Reporting by Sayed Salahuddin, Writing by Sanjeev Miglani; Editing by David Fogarty)
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