Karzai berates US over more civilian deaths

Turkmenistan News.Net
Thursday 8th January, 2009

Hamid Karzai, the president of Afghanistan, has rebuked US/Coalition forces for running an operation that killed 17 civilians, including women and children.

The US led operation had been aimed at stopping the Taliban's roadside bomb network in the eastern Laghman province, but during the fighting, 17 civilians were killed among the militants.

Mr Karzai, who has been leading Afghanistan since US-led troops overthrew the Taliban government in 2001, has repeatedly warned foreign forces of the mounting civilian casualties.

Last year, during operations by foreign and Afghan forces, over 700 civilians were killed.

Civilian deaths caused by foreign troop operations have caused Mr Karzai to insist there should be an end to such incidents.

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