Afghan police say five shot dead by NATO troops Friday

[maddezmom]

Afghan police say five shot dead by NATO troops Friday March 16, 08:09 AM

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFP) - NATO troops opened fire on a police patrol in southern Afghanistan, apparently mistaking them for hostile forces, and killed five policemen, a senior police official said Friday.

Another six policemen were missing after the shooting late Thursday in the volatile Gereshk area of the southern province of Helmand, provincial deputy police chief General Isau Khan told AFP.

They had been travelling in a vehicle that was not a conventional police type, he said.

Khan was unable to say what had prompted the soldiers to open fire, adding that "the incident is being investigated."

The media office of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) could not confirm the incident.

more:http://uk.news.yahoo.com/16032007/323/afghan-police-say-five-shot-dead-nato-troops.html

[cal04]

1. US troops kill Afghan policemen

American forces in southern Afghanistan have mistakenly killed five Afghan policemen at a checkpoint.

The shooting happened in Helmand province on Thursday night.

The deputy police chief of Helmand province said that an American patrol mistook a police check post for a Taleban position and opened fire.

The incident in a village close to Gereshk is the third time in the last couple of weeks where US troops have been accused of using excessive force.

(snip)
Privately, Nato forces are frustrated and angry that their efforts to win the support of local people are being undermined by American forces operating in Nato areas - but not under their command.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6457393.stm

[Eugene]

2. BBC: US denies Afghan police deaths

Last Updated: Friday, 16 March 2007, 17:51 GMT

US denies Afghan police deaths
Alastair Leithead
BBC News, Kabul

Five policemen have been killed in Helmand province in the south of
Afghanistan in what appears to have been a clash between friendly
forces.

Initial reports from the ministry of interior and the deputy police
chief for Helmand said American troops had been responsible for the
deaths.

-snip-

But the US-led coalition has denied any involvement in the incident
and has refused to comment further.

-snip-

The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force has also denied
reports that American troops working under their command had been
at the scene.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6457393.stm