Merkel Apologises for Afghan Airstrike, Reuters, 1 December 2009
EXCERPT: "Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed regret on Tuesday for an air strike in Afghanistan which killed civilians three months ago, as calls intensified for a probe into what members of her government knew about the attack. Both Merkel's conservatives and her new coalition partners, the Free Democrats (FDP), have signalled their support for a parliamentary investigation into the German-ordered strike, which has already cost a cabinet minister his job. Revelations that the government knew more about civilian deaths than it initially acknowledged have emboldened opposition parties weeks into Merkel's second term, and become a major headache for her. Merkel, speaking after talks with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, said questions remained about the September 4 strike, which was called in by German forces and carried out by a U.S. warplane. The Afghan government has said the attack on two hijacked fuel trucks killed 69 Taliban insurgents and 30 civilians."
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Related articles:
Merkel says Germany will take responsibility for Afghan attack, Bloomberg, 1 December 2009
Germany expected to extend mandate of troops already in Afghanistan, The Canadian Press, 1 December 2009
Germany to decide on Afghanistan troop numbers after January summit, RTT News, 1 December 2009
Pressure mounts on Germany's new defense minister, Spiegel Online, 30 November 2009
Related posts:
German minister resigns over Afghan airstrike, 27 November 2009
Germany approves extension of Bundeswehr missions, 18 November 2009
German troops OK in calling for airstrike: General, 29 October 2009
Afghan role at stake in German poll, 18 September 2009
30 civilians killed in NATO strike: Commission, 14 September 2009
