'Afghanistan Probes Civilian Deaths Claim: Ministry', Agence France Presse, 7 April 2008
EXCERPT: "Afghanistan authorities said Monday [7 April 2008] they were investigating claims by provincial officials that up to 33 civilians were killed in a weekend offensive by US-led troops. The defence ministry said it could not confirm that civilians were killed in the raids by US and Afghan forces in the eastern province of Nuristan, a known stronghold of Taliban-led militants. The US-led coalition had earlier reported 'significant' insurgent casualties during the operation. Mohammad Aleem, Nuristan deputy governor, told AFP that 33 civilians, including women and children, were killed and dozens more injured in the day-long operation in the mountainous province's Do'aab district. District chief Qari Daud put the death toll at 28, all of them civilians. The defence ministry said in a statement that reports from the area 'indicate that non-civilians were hurt during that operation.' On Sunday, it had reported 'heavy' militant casualties."
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For more information on civilian deaths in Afghanistan, please see the Monitor's Fatality Data, Civilian section.
See also:
'Afghan troops say they inflict heavy casualties on insurgents', Voice of America, 7 April 2008
'US-Afghan strikes claim 19 lives', Press TV, 7 April 2008
