5 children killed during Australian operation in Afghanistan

[Coventina]

Source: International Herald-Tribune

KABUL;: Five children were killed in predawn fighting Thursday between Australian special operations troops and Taliban guerrillas in south-central Afghanistan, the latest incident of rising civilian casualties that have hurt support for American and NATO troops here.

The skirmish, which occurred in darkness in a village called Sarmorghab in Oruzgan Province, north of Kandahar, was condemned by the provincial governor, Assadullah Hamdam, who said it would have a "negative effect." He also said provincial officials had already pleaded with troops not to carry out raids where civilians are present.

The deaths come amid a growing chorus of complaints about civilian casualties from Afghan officials, including President Hamid Karzai, as well as new fears that plans to add as many as 30,000 more American troops will only lead to more such fatalities.

Afghan leaders will press their case over the next few days with Richard Holbrooke, the Obama administration's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Holbrooke, who arrived in Afghanistan on Thursday after visiting Pakistan, is expected to meet with Karzai and perhaps a dozen other senior Afghan political leaders and parliamentarians, as well as with United Nations and American and NATO officials.



Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/13/asia/13afghancnd.php