Nearly 40 insurgents, some civilians killed in southern Afghanistan

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.ae/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2006/October/subcontinent_October960.xml§ion=subcontinent

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - NATO soldiers killed 38 Taleban rebels in clashes in southern Afghanistan that also claimed a number of civilian lives, the force and police said Wednesday.

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said it was looking into reports that civilians were killed in an air strike during one of four engagements with rebels in Kandahar province on Tuesday.

Villagers told AFP that around 20 houses were destroyed and 60 people killed or wounded in the fighting around the Panjwayi area, which is about 35 kilometres (19 miles) from Kandahar city.

None of the dead were Taleban, they said.

Police confirmed there were civilian casualties. ‘But it is not clear how many,’ ministry of interior spokesman Zemarai Bashary said.