U.S. military kills four Afghans it claims were militants, but locals say

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Tue, May. 04, 2004





U.S. military kills four Afghans it claims were militants, but locals say victims were police

By Stephen Graham

ASSOCIATED PRESS


KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S. airstrikes killed four alleged militants following an attack on a military convoy in eastern Afghanistan, but local officials said Sunday the victims were policemen killed in a case of mistaken identity.

The incident raised the number of reported deaths in violence across Afghanistan this year to more than 300, most of them in a Taliban-led insurgency threatening plans for landmark elections this September.

Meanwhile, the Afghan government said it had reached an agreement with U.S. commanders on a new militia force to fight militants.

Two American soldiers were wounded when their convoy was attacked late Saturday near Gardez, 60 miles south of the capital, Kabul, in Paktia province, U.S. spokeswoman Lt. Col. Michele DeWerth said.
(snip/...)

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/8584416.htm

[Vladimir]

1. I spy with my little eye

a man in a turban! Is he a militant? Is he a sheppard? Is he Osama? Who knows? Who can tell? Best shoot him and be safe...