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At Least 14 Civilians Killed in NATO Airstrike in Afghanistan

   VOA News  May 29, 2011

Photo: voa

   Officials in southern Afghanistan say a NATO airstrike has killed 14
   civilians - all women and children.
   Authorities say six people were also wounded Sunday in the strike in
   Nawzad district of Helmand province.
   The provincial governor's office says two civilian homes were hit in
   the attack, killing two women, five girls and seven boys.
   A NATO spokesman says he is aware of the reports of civilian
   casualties. He said a joint assessment team has been sent to the site
   and the coalition will release additional information later.
   The mistaken killing of civilians by foreign troops is a major source
   of friction between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Western
   officials. It also complicates efforts to win support from ordinary
   Afghans.
   On Saturday, northern Afghanistan's police commander was killed in a
   suicide bomber attack.
   Authorities say General Dawood Dawood, who was also a former deputy
   interior minister, was among six provincial officials and NATO service
   members killed when a suicide bomber, wearing a police uniform, struck
   a governor's compound.
   Nine other people were wounded in the explosion.
   The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the bombing, which happened
   as officials and NATO troops were meeting in Takhar province's Taloqan
   city.
   Elsewhere Saturday, coalition troops killed an armed woman during a
   raid on a compound in eastern Khost province. The alliance said
   coalition forces discovered she was a woman after killing her.

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