Afghans dispute 6 killed in raid were militants

[unhappycamper]

Afghans dispute 6 killed in raid were militants
By Noor Khan - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Feb 6, 2009 10:08:24 EST

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — International troops killed six Afghan men in an overnight raid on a village in southern Afghanistan. A provincial official said the men were civilians, but the U.S. military said they were militants.

Meanwhile, Russia announced it would allow U.S. military supplies for Afghanistan to cross its territory, a potentially important alternative to roads through Pakistan that have increasingly been threatened by insurgent attacks.

Civilian deaths are a hot-button issue in Afghanistan, with President Hamid Karzai repeatedly calling on foreign troops to do more to prevent the deaths of innocents and asking for more control over foreign military operations in the country.

Reports often differ on whether those killed in raids are insurgents or civilians. The Taliban are powerful across southern Afghanistan and often hide out in homes. Villagers not part of the insurgency are often still armed.

Zabul province’s deputy governor, Gulab Shah Alikheil, said six men were killed and three arrested late Thursday in a raid by foreign troops on a village in Shahresafa district. He said the dead were four brothers from one family and two from another.


Rest of article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_afghan_raid_020609/%2e