NATO warplanes killed at least 50 civilians, mostly women and children, in bombing in southern Afghanistan during a major Islamic holiday, local leaders said today.
A NATO-led International Security Assistance Force helicopter flies over Kabul as the sun sets
The incident happened on Tuesday, the middle of the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of the Muslim fasting month, in Panjwai, an area where the alliance said it had killed hundreds of insurgents in a two-week offensive last month.
NATO says it killed 48 insurgents during heavy fighting in the area in Kandahar province, but had also received credible reports several civilians were killed in the operation.
The defence ministry has sent a team to investigate and President Hamid Karzai today appointed a special team of local elders to look at the case.
"It was late at night -- that might be the reason they didn't know where to bomb," said provincial assembly member Agha Lalai.
Visiting the wounded in hospital, tribal elder Naik Mohammad said 60 civilians had died. Villagers also said 60 died, dozens were wounded and 25 houses razed in 4-5 hours of bombing.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, today urged a speedy and thorough investigation.
"(UNAMA) is very concerned by reports that a great number of civilians may have died during the conduct of military operations," it said in a statement in Kabul.
"The safety and welfare of civilians must always come first and any civilian casualties are unacceptable, without exception."