‘52 civilians die in NATO attack’

A statement by Karzai's office said an investigation by Afghan intelligence determined that a NATO rocket slammed into the village of Rigi in the Sangin district of Helmand province. Karzai expressed his condolences in a telephone conversation with villagers and called on the US-led alliance to make protection of civilians "their priority during their operations." The US-led command said a joint NATO-Afghan investigation into the alleged attack "has thus far revealed no evidence of civilians injured or killed." "Any speculation at this point of an alleged civilian casualty in Rigi village is completely unfounded," said Rear Adm. Rick Smith.

Last Saturday, a man named Abdul Ghafaar told The Associated Press that he brought seven children to a hospital in Kandahar after getting caught in the crossfire in Sangin the day before. Another man, Marjan Agha, said villagers began walking with a white flag toward NATO forces but that shots rang out and two people were killed on the spot.

Civilian casualties caused by international troops are a major source of friction between Karzai and his international partners, even though the United Nations says the Taleban are responsible for most civilian deaths.

Rising public anger over civilian deaths and injuries led former NATO commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal to issue orders last year curbing the use of airpower and heavy weapons if civilians are at risk, Kazinform cites Arab News. See www.arabnews.com