CIVILIAN TOLL IN AFGHANISAN ON RISE 23/11/08

Source: PressTv Iran

Domenica 23 Novembre 2008


Civilian toll in Afghanistan on rise

PRESS TV, Iran
Sun, 23 Nov 2008

The US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan have killed an Afghan civilian, injuring fours others during clashes southern Zabul province.

"Coalition forces killed two armed militants, one female civilian, and provided medical care to four more civilians," on Thursday, a statement released by the coalition said on Sunday.

At least two female were among those injured the statement said, adding that the wounded were compensated.

Civilians have borne the burden of seven years of occupation, caught in the middle of a war between the Taliban-led insurgency and foreign military operations, since a US-led invasion ended Taliban's regime in 2001.

They are mostly the victims of militant bombings targeting foreign and national troops but scores have been killed in military action.

Aerial assaults, which are often imprecise, have recently resulted in considerable civilian tolls, causing a rift between Kabul and its international allies.

Earlier this month, Afghan officials said a joint investigation found that 37 civilians and 26 insurgents were killed in Wech Bakhtu, a village in Kandahar province during operations.

Furthermore, a UN-backed Afghan commission found that 90 civilians, including many women and children were killed in Azizabad, a village in Herat province, after an operation in August by US forces.

The US has only confirmed 20 civilian deaths in Wech Bakhtu, while a US investigation concluded only 33 had died Azizabad.