US-Led Strike Killed 90 Afghan Civilians: UN

Civilians, mostly children, killed

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 26, 2008 8:29 AM CDT

(Newser) – The UN has evidence that a coalition airstrike did indeed kill roughly 90 civilians, most of them children, in Afghanistan last week, Reuters reports. The US has been insisting that only 30 were killed in the strike, most of them Taliban militants, but the UN’s special mission to Afghanistan today announced that it had “convincing evidence” of massive civilian casualties.

Of the 90 or so killed, 60 were children and 15 women, the UN concluded. Anger over civilian casualties has driven a rift between the coalition and the Afghan government, which has ordered a review of operations by foreign forces. “The patience of the Afghan people has ran out,” said a presidential spokesman. “We no longer can afford to see the killing of our children.”

UN special representative to Afghanistan Kai Eide is seen during a press briefing in this file photo. Eide announced today that the UN has evidence that a coalition air strike killed 90 civilians. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Zinat Gul, 24, who allegedly was wounded by a US airstrike in Shindand district, lies in a hospital bed in Herat, east of Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Fraidoon Pooyaa)

An Afghan boy look at a police vehicle set on fire by protesters during a demonstration against the killing of civilian in an airstrike in Azizabad, Saturday, Aug 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Fraidoon Pooya)

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US-Led Strike Killed 90 Afghan Civilians: UN

Civilians, mostly children, killed

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Officials say they were gathering firewood on a mountainside

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US-Led Strike Killed 90 Afghan Civilians: UN

Civilians, mostly children, killed

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • United Nations • Hamid Karzai • civilian casualties • coalition troops • Afghanistan war

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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Afghan Officials: NATO Airstrike Killed 12 Children

NATO says the matter is under investigation

NATO Accidentally Kills Karzai Relative

Afghan president again calls for more care in avoiding civilian casualties

9 Children Killed in US Attack: Karzai

Officials say they were gathering firewood on a mountainside

Petraeus Suggests Afghans Burned Own Children

Participants at a recent meeting say comments offended Karzai

Afghans: NATO Strike Targeted Civilians

Villagers: 52 civilians killed in Helmand skirmish

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