'Germany: Civilians Likely Killed In Afghan Strike', The Associated Press, 6 November 2009
EXCERPT: "Germany's defense minister said Friday he believes civilians were killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan, but insisted that the German-requested attack was necessary from a military standpoint. Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said a NATO report concludes there were 'procedural errors' in the Sept. 4 airstrike, but he defended the decision by a German commander to request it as 'appropriate in military terms.' The commander, Col. Georg Klein, called in the NATO airstrike against two tanker trucks that had been seized by Taliban insurgents near Kunduz, fearing they could be used to attack troops. Although the information remains contradictory, 'I personally assume that there were civilian victims,' Guttenberg told reporters after assessing the NATO report. He stressed that 'I regret ... every civilian victim deeply.' The report prepared by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force remains classified, but Guttenberg was allowed to present it to members of Germany's parliament responsible for military affairs."
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See also:
'Afghan air strike "appropriate," German defense minister says', Bloomberg, 6 November 2009
'Federal prosecutors to probe deadly NATO air strike in Afghanistan', The Local, 6 November 2009
'Legal issues snarl German inquiry into airstrike colonel', M&C, 6 November 2009
'German minister admits Afghan raid error', Ninemsn, 6 November 2009
Related posts:
'German troops OK in calling for airstrike: General', 29 October 2009
'30 civilians killed in NATO strike: Commission', 14 September 2009
'NATO confirms civilians died in airstrike', 9 September 2009
'Afghan civilian casualties must be cut: US, NATO', 12 June 2009
'UN: Afghan civilian deaths jumped 40 percent', 17 February 2009
