Civilian casualty in Afghanistan

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-19-2009 14:27

U.S. general has traveled to western Afghanistan to investigate claims six women and two children were killed in a U.S. airstrike.

The U.S. coalition said in a statement that the strike on Monday in Herat province killed 15 militants and targeted a leader. But local police say six women and two children were among the dead.

Afghans carry body parts of the victims, who the  villagers said were killed in an air strike in Gozara  district of Herat province west of Kabul, Afghanistan  on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009. U.S. Brig. Gen. Michael Ryan traveled to western Afghanistan on Wednesday to  investigate claims that six women and two children  were killed in a U.S. airstrike, officials said. (AP Photo)

The claims came as US President Barack Obama approved some 17-thousand US more troops for Afghanistan.

Civilian casualties seem to be a never-ending part of the war in Afghanistan.

Here in Herat, villagers buried what they said was the body of a child killed in Monday's US airstrike.

Hajji Zabihullah, village leader, said, "I ask all Afghan nationals to ally against the infidels, and fight against them."

The Afghan Ministry of Defense condemned the killings, saying they came despite an recent agreement to increase Afghan participation in US missions.

US military officials said if non-combatants were killed or injured the military would take responsibility.

But they added that insurgents sometimes surround themselves with women and children.