AFP, June 23, 2008

Afghans protest alleged civilian casualties by US forces

Around 200 people demonstrated in the Khogyani district of Nangarhar province

JALALABAD, Afghanistan — Hundreds of protesters took to streets in eastern Afghanistan on Monday after a father and son were allegedly killed by gunfire from US-led soldiers, a governor and witnesses said.

According to Pajwhok Afghan News, Mirwais and his 4-year-old son were killed by the US troops. (Photo: PAN)

Around 200 people demonstrated in the Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, chanting "We want the trial of those responsible for the death of civilians," witnesses said.

US-led coalition and Afghan troops were on patrol overnight in Khogyani when they saw a militant planting a bomb by a road, Khogyani governor Haji Zalmai Khan told AFP.

"They opened fire and killed the militant on the spot and it was followed by cannon fire from a coalition base on a suspected Taliban hideout in the area," Khan said.

"One of the cannon shots landed on a house in the nearby village and killed a father and son, who were civilians not Taliban," he said.

The coalition forces denied causing any civilian casualties in Khogyani district but said they could not provide details since their operation in the area was ongoing on Monday.

A spokesman for the Taliban, who were ousted from power in late 2001 by a US-led invasion, claimed they had killed ten "American soldiers" in a roadside blast in the district.

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