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September 17, 2008

US Defense Secretary Expresses Regret for Afghan Civilian Deaths
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Robert Gates says he offered all Afghanistan his 'sincere condolences'
for recent loss of innocent life as result of coalition airstrikes 
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates delivers a speech at the U.S.
Embassy in Kabul, 17 Sep 2008The U.S. defense secretary has expressed
"personal regret" for civilians killed by U.S. airstrikes in
Afghanistan. Robert Gates said in Kabul Wednesday that he offered all
Afghanistan his "sincere condolences" for the recent loss of innocent
life as a result of coalition airstrikes. Gates said the U.S. military
makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties, but he added that the
military has to work even harder. Afghanistan's government and people
have expressed anger with the U.S. military about the increasing number
of civilians killed during attacks on militant targets. Gates earlier
discussed the situation with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Separately
Wednesday, the U.S.-led coalition said a roadside bomb killed four
soldiers and an Afghan national in the country's east. It did not
identify the troops' nationalities, or say where exactly the explosion
happened. Most foreign troops serving under the coalition in eastern
Afghanistan are from the United States. The troops have been working
with the Afghan army to fight Taliban militants since 2001, when a
U.S.-led invasion pushed the Taliban from power. The top U.S. and NATO
commander in Afghanistan, General David Mc Kiernan, said Tuesday that
10,000 more troops are needed to fight the Taliban, in addition to the
U.S. combat brigade due to arrive in January. 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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