Karzai Lashes Out At US Over Killing Of 14

'Karzai Lashes Out At US Over Killing Of 14 In Eastern Afghanistan', CBC News, 10 November 2008

EXCERPT: "Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday condemned the U.S. coalition's killing of 14 'private security guards' in eastern Afghanistan, saying such attacks will only 'expand the gap' between the people and his government, as well as its western backers. In a statement, the president said that those killed in the eastern Khost province on Sunday were working for a road construction company. 'Despite the Afghan government's constant requests to NATO and coalition forces to prevent air strikes that cause the death of innocent people and civilians, such an incident has happened once again which has no justification,' Karzai was quoted in the statement as saying. But the U.S. coalition and Karzai's own Interior Ministry said in a joint statement that U.S. troops shot at three vehicles carrying armed men only after those in the vehicles opened fire on their forces. Karzai has been increasingly vocal in his condemnation of U.S. and NATO tactics after a recent spate of incidents involving U.S. coalition troops in which Afghan civilians were killed. Last week, Karzai appealed to U.S. president-elect Barack Obama to ensure that Afghan civilians are not killed in coalition operations."

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See also:
'US airstrike killed 37 civilians, probe finds', Washington Post, 10 November 2008
'Will Obama sign off on new Afghan strategy?', NPR, 10 November 2008
'Fixing Afghanistan - Commentary by Robert Gates', ABS-CBN News, 10 November 2008
'US vows to back off if fighters use Afghan civilians as cover', CNN, 9 November 2008

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