NATO says two civilians killed in Afghanistan
KABUL (AFP) — Two civilians, one a child, were found dead and five others wounded after a clash between insurgents and NATO forces in southern Afghanistan, the alliance said Sunday.
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said troops were attacked by the rebels late Friday. They found the civilians when they returned to the scene of the violence in Uruzgan province on Saturday.
Three of the wounded were also children, it said in a statement, adding it was not clear how they sustained their injuries.
"ISAF sincerely regrets the loss of those civilians and is saddened that casualties were caused as a result of a deliberate attack against ISAF forces that was instigated by the insurgents," the statement said.
Spokesman Wing Commander Antony McCord added: "No matter the cause, we deeply regret the loss of innocent life and injuries sustained to the civilians. We will continue to determine what happened."
ISAF said it sustained no casualties during the engagement, but a number of insurgents were killed.
Tribal chiefs and Afghan leaders including the president have urged international troops to be more vigilant in ensuring the safety of civilians.
The Taliban have waged a bloody insurgency since they were ousted from power in 2001.
Southern Afghanistan, from where the Taliban rose in early 1996, sees the worst of the insurgency violence, with regular attacks.
