Habib Rahman Sherzai
Four civilians have reportedly been killed and eight others wounded in a fresh air strike by foreign forces in northern Baghlan province, residents alleged on Tuesday.
The overnight attack took place in Kohna Qala area of Baghlan-i-Markazi district, residents told Pajhwok Afghan News. The fresh air raid came about three days after 10 civilians were killed during military operations in eastern Kunar province.
The Saturday air strike in Kunar drew condemnation from the lawmakers on Monday who walked out of the session and later a parliamentary delegation met President Hamid Karzai to show their resentment. Karzai ordered a serious probe into the attack that killed ten people including eight school children in Badeel area in Narang district.
In the last night air raid, the dead included a father and his three sons, who were killed while running to escape the bombardment, a teacher at the Jamiat Aburjaee High School in the area, Karim Safi, told Pajhwok Afghan News.
UNAMA said that 468 deaths were caused by pro-government forces, including NATO and US-led forces, and 166 by "other actors.
A student of the school, Karim Javed, said that the air raid also left many people wounded including a student of his school.
Head of the district hospital, Abdul Qahir Qanit, said they had received eight injured people delivered to the hospital with a woman and a child in a critical condition.
However, provincial police chief Kabir Andarabi said the aircrafts targeted Taliban. He claimed the attack killed eight Taliban fighters and injured seven others. The dead bodies of two slain militants were still lying on the ground at the site, he said.
The war in Afghanistan is becoming deadlier, killing 10 percent more civilians during the first 10 months of 2009 compared to the previous period last year, according to UN figures.
UNAMA said that 468 deaths were caused by pro-government forces, including NATO and US-led forces, and 166 by "other actors.
Meanwhile, a gun-battle broke out between police and militants after the latter attacked their checkpost in Shar-i-Qadeem area of the Baghlan-i-Markazi district, police spokesman, Javed Basharat, said.
One fighter was killed and another three injured in the clash that also left three policemen wounded, he added.
However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the fighters killed eight policemen and wounded as many during the firefight. Acknowledging the killing of their one fighter in the clash, Mujahid said the fighters also abducted one cop.