US-led force kills eight civilians in Afghanistan
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
KABUL (AFP) - Eight civilians being held in a compound by Taliban militants were killed in an air strike by US-led troops during a battle that also left 25 rebel fighters dead, the force said Monday.
Militants had ambushed coalition troops in Uruzgan province Sunday and then fled into a compound where they held "hostage" 11 civilians, including children, it said in a statement.
"Coalition troops called in close-air support to engage the militants hiding in the structure. They did not have knowledge of non-combatants in the buildings at that time," it said.
"Survivors reported that coalition aircraft dropped a bomb on the enemy position which killed eight of the civilians."
Militants had ambushed coalition troops in Uruzgan province Sunday and then fled into a compound where they held "hostage" 11 civilians, including children, it said in a statement.
"Coalition troops called in close-air support to engage the militants hiding in the structure. They did not have knowledge of non-combatants in the buildings at that time," it said.
"Survivors reported that coalition aircraft dropped a bomb on the enemy position which killed eight of the civilians."