The United Nations today appealed for civilians in Afghanistan to be protected after four employees of a UN-affiliated mine-clearing agency were killed by US bombs in Kabul.
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Spokeswoman for the UN in Pakistan Ms Stephanie Bunker confirmed the deaths of four workers for Afghan Technical Consultants, which had an office in a village 1.8 miles east of Kabul. The building was destroyed, she said.
The deaths were the first independently confirmed casualties in the US-led air campaign, now in its third day.
"All four died on the spot," Ms Bunker told a news conference in Islamabad. "Pieces of their bodies are still to be recovered from the wreckage".
The building was near a Taliban communications tower that may have been a target in last night's raid.
"Today the UN co-ordinator for Afghanistan appeals to the international community to protect innocent civilians while military strikes are going on," Ms Bunker said.
"People need to distinguish between combatants and those innocent civilians who do not bear arms".
AP