Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


NATO Reports 3 More Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan

   VOA News 16 February 2010
   A British soldier is silhouetted as he walks with his machine gun on a
   roof  top  of  a  residential house in the village Qari Sahib, Nad Ali
   district, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, 15 Jan 2010

Photo: AP

   A British soldier is silhouetted as he walks with his machine gun on a
   roof  top  of  a  residential house in the village Qari Sahib, Nad Ali
   district, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, 15 Jan 2010

   NATO forces say three more Afghan civilians were killed during a major
   offensive against the Taliban in the southern province of Helmand.
   A  statement  from  the international force Tuesday said two civilians
   were killed in separate incidents after being shot for failing to heed
   warnings to stop approaching troops.
   Another  man was reported killed after getting caught in the crossfire
   between coalition forces and insurgents.
   NATO  commanders  say  protecting civilians is a major priority in the
   offensive.   That effort suffered a setback  Sunday when rockets fired
   by  coalition  forces  hit  a  home  in  Marjah, killing 12 civilians,
   including six children.
   Afghanistan's  interior minister, Mohammed Hanif Atmar, is quoted in a
   NATO  statement  as saying the strike was targeting insurgents who, as
   it  turned out, were holding civilians captive.  Previous reports said
   the rockets had veered off course.
   Overall,  Afghan  and  NATO  military  commanders are reporting steady
   progress  in  the  assault  on  the  town  of  Marjah, a major Taliban
   stronghold in southern Afghanistan.
   Senior  officers  also  admit that allied troops are taking heavy fire
   and coming under sniper attacks in some areas, and that roadside bombs
   have considerably slowed down their advance.
   Afghan officials said Monday that the Marjah offensive killed at least
   35 militants during the first two days of combat.
   About  15,000  U.S.,  British  and  Afghan  troops are involved in the
   biggest  joint  operation  since  the war in Afghanistan began in late
   2001.

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

.