Karzai urges Nato to explain civilian death
President Hamid Karzai called the top US and Nato general in Afghanistan again to explain civilian casualties caused by international forces, while an insurgent attack yesterday on a security checkpoint killed five police, an official said.
Karzai asked Gen David McKiernan to explain the reported deaths of six civilians in two incidents, Karzai's office said late Saturday. It was the second time in three days Karzai brought up the topic with McKiernan. On Thursday, the US general was summoned to the presidential palace to explain other deaths.
Karzai has long complained about civilian deaths caused by international forces. Last year, McKiernan implemented new rules of engagement intended to cut down on the deaths of innocent Afghans, but they still occur, especially in nighttime raids.
Karzai's office said three civilians were killed by international forces in Helmand province on Friday. The Nato-led force said three people were killed when its forces fired on a vehicle from which a man who was "posing a threat" was exiting. Two people inside the vehicle were also killed, it said.
"The death of a single innocent Afghan is a tragedy," said Capt. Mark Durkin, a spokesman for the Nato-led force. An investigation is under way, he said.
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