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Afghan President Says NATO Rocket Killed 52 Civilians

   VOA News 26 July 2010
   A  medic  helps  a  boy  at  a  hospital  in Kandahar, south of Kabul,
   Afghanistan. Saturday 24 Jul 2010

Photo: AP

   A  medic helps a boy at a hospital in Kandahar, south of Kabul, 24 Jul
   2010. The boy was one of seven children brought to the city's hospital
   after  getting  caught  in  crossfire  Friday between NATO and Taliban
   forces in Sangin.

   Afghan  President  Hamid  Karzai says a NATO rocket attack in southern
   Afghanistan has killed 52 civilians, including women and children.
   Mr.   Karzai   said   Monday  that  an  investigation  by  the  Afghan
   intelligence  service  found  that the rocket hit a home in the Sangin
   district of Helmand province last Friday.

   The  civilians  had taken refuge in a house to escape fighting between
   NATO-led forces and Taliban insurgents, according to Afghan officials.
   A  NATO spokesman, Colonel Wayne Shanks, confirmed Monday the alliance
   had  fought  with  insurgents in the district three days ago.  But he
   said  initial  reports  do  not confirm any civilian deaths or rockets
   gone astray.
   Civilian  casualties  caused  by  foreign  troops are a major cause of
   friction between Mr. Karzai and his Western allies.

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

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