Afghans: U.S. Airstrike Killed Civilians
By NOOR KHAN
Associated Press Writer
August 11, 2005, 4:44 AM EDT
QALAT, Afghanistan -- Residents of a remote village in southern Afghanistan said Thursday that U.S. warplanes bombed houses during operations against militants this week, killing several civilians.
Zabul province Gov. Ali Khail said that U.S.-led coalition forces had "made a mistake" during recent operations in the province, but gave no details. "There were some casualties among villagers, but I don't know the exact number," he said.
The U.S. military denied that any civilians had been in the area of the fighting Monday in the Day Chopan district where the villagers come from. The military said earlier that 18 suspected insurgents and one U.S. service member were killed in a clash -- one of five Americans to die in action in Afghanistan in the past week.
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"The children were crying and they were very afraid," said a weeping Sadia Bibi, 50. "These planes killed my relatives. We are poor and innocent people. Why are they killing us?"
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