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US-led coalition confirms Afghan civilian casualties

"There are confirmed reports of civilian casualties; however, it is unknown at this time how many."

-- statement from US-led coalition in Afghanistan

The US-led coalition confirmed a battle between US forces and Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan caused civilian casualties, and a joint Afghan-US investigation was under way.

"There are confirmed reports of civilian casualties; however, it is unknown at this time how many," the US-led coalition said in a statement received yesterday.

Coalition forces treated up to 20 villagers wounded during a 16-hour battle that also involved Afghan army troops in Sangin district of Helmand province on Tuesday, the statement said.

One boy died of his wounds after being evacuated by coalition troops, it said.

Afghan and coalition forces estimate a significant number of Taliban, including a high ranking militant commander, were killed in the battle, the statement added.

Provincial governor Assadullah Wafa said earlier this week that 21 civilians were killed in an air strike carried out by Western forces and he had no reports of Taliban casualties.

Witnesses put the civilian death toll at more than 40 and say the Taliban were not there.

Western forces mounted a large operation against Taliban fighters in Sangin in recent weeks. The district is also a center of opium production.

Even prior to the latest casualties, scores of civilians have been killed by Western forces in the last two weeks.

With anger already rising among Afghans over the mounting toll, Sangin's residents have called on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to come and see for himself how they have suffered.
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