East Afghan Clashes Claim Civilian Lives

[Ghost in the Machine]

East Afghan Clashes Claim Civilian Lives
Published: 10/5/07, 9:05 AM EDT
By FISNIK ABRASHI

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - U.S.-led coalition and Afghan troops clashed with insurgents during a raid in eastern Afghanistan on Friday, and civilians as well as militants were killed. In the country's volatile south, separate explosions apparently targeting NATO forces killed two children and a British soldier.

The joint force came under attack during a raid on compounds suspected of housing militants in Waza Khwa district, in Paktika province. In the ensuing battle, several Taliban fighters, but also civilians - including a woman and a child - were killed, a coalition statement said.

The military said it investigate the deaths, while blaming militants for using civilians as cover. Initially, the coalition had said there were no civilians killed and wounded in the clash, one of the latest in soaring violence in the country.

It was not immediately clear exactly how many people were killed.

Spokesman Maj. Chris Belcher said in the statement that Taliban fighters opened fire and threw grenades at the coalition and Afghan forces.

http://home.bellsouth.net/s/editorial.dll?pnum=1&bfromind=7405&eeid=5440019&_sitecat=1505&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=-2&ck=&ch=ne&rg=blsadstrgt