Heat grows on US for int'l probe

Pressure was growing yesterday for an international inquiry into a catastrophic US strike on an MSF hospital in Afghanistan, after the military detailed "tragic but avoidable" errors but refused to say if there would be an independent investigation.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) slammed American forces for "gross negligence" Wednesday after the US commander in Afghanistan said the October 3 strike on the charity-run hospital in the northern city of Kunduz was "caused primarily by human error".

The raid killed 30 people and forced the charity to close the trauma centre -- the only one in the region -- while stirring an avalanche of global condemnation.

General John Campbell, speaking at Nato headquarters in Kabul Wednesday, blamed in part the fatigue of US troops who had been battling a Taliban offensive in Kunduz for five days, adding that the mistake was "compounded by process and equipment failures".

The general said during Wednesday's press conference that individuals involved in the attack had been suspended pending "standard military justice", but refused to give details.

"The frightening catalogue of errors outlined today illustrates gross negligence on the part of US forces and violations of the rules of war," MSF general director Christopher Stokes said.

Human Rights Watch demanded an independent investigation, saying "serious questions" remained about "whether the attackers knowingly or recklessly fired on a functioning hospital".

The rights group added: "This warrants a criminal investigation into possible war crimes, but the Pentagon did not clarify today whether recommendations made to senior commanders include possible criminal charges."