US troops kill nine Afghan policemen
Mark Tran and agencies Thursday January 24, 2008 Guardian Unlimited
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US-led troops today killed nine Afghan policemen after mistaking them for Taliban insurgents in Ghazni province, central Afghanistan.
A district police chief was among those who died during an operation that included US ground forces and air strikes, said a provincial official, Habeb-ul Rahman. Two civilians also died.
"This morning around 3.30am coalition forces launched an operation north of Ghazni," said Abdullah Nashir, spokesman for the province's governor. "Unfortunately we got reports that Second District Commander Kamyab along with eight other police were killed."
Afghan police officials in Ghazni said the officers appeared to have been killed by American troops, who mistook them for insurgents.
It was unclear whether the policemen were taking part in the raid or had gone to the area after the operation was launched. The US-led coalition denied it had killed the policemen and said its forces killed "several insurgents".
Nine others were detained during the operation, which targeted a Taliban commander associated with suicide bombings in Ghazni.
Hundreds of Afghans, chanting anti-American slogans, protested the killings in Ghazni city.
There have been frequent instances of friendly fire in Afghanistan, where US and Nato-led troops rely heavily on the use of airpower because of a shortage of troops.
The accidental killing of civilians has caused friction between coalition forces and the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, who has urged caution and coordination with Afghan authorities.
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Mod Edit: changed title to reflect that this is in dispute and therefore not a fact.
Mark Tran and agencies Thursday January 24, 2008 Guardian Unlimited
Article Link
US-led troops today killed nine Afghan policemen after mistaking them for Taliban insurgents in Ghazni province, central Afghanistan.
A district police chief was among those who died during an operation that included US ground forces and air strikes, said a provincial official, Habeb-ul Rahman. Two civilians also died.
"This morning around 3.30am coalition forces launched an operation north of Ghazni," said Abdullah Nashir, spokesman for the province's governor. "Unfortunately we got reports that Second District Commander Kamyab along with eight other police were killed."
Afghan police officials in Ghazni said the officers appeared to have been killed by American troops, who mistook them for insurgents.
It was unclear whether the policemen were taking part in the raid or had gone to the area after the operation was launched. The US-led coalition denied it had killed the policemen and said its forces killed "several insurgents".
Nine others were detained during the operation, which targeted a Taliban commander associated with suicide bombings in Ghazni.
Hundreds of Afghans, chanting anti-American slogans, protested the killings in Ghazni city.
There have been frequent instances of friendly fire in Afghanistan, where US and Nato-led troops rely heavily on the use of airpower because of a shortage of troops.
The accidental killing of civilians has caused friction between coalition forces and the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, who has urged caution and coordination with Afghan authorities.
More on link
Mod Edit: changed title to reflect that this is in dispute and therefore not a fact.
