Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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June 22, 2007

Afghan Officials Say 25 Civilians Killed in NATO Airstrike
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=17E8731:A6F02AD83191E1607A5E06CCFEDC60439574F7DCC14957C0 Southern Helmand
provincial police chief says Taleban forces staged attack late
Thursday in Gereshk district against NATO forces, sparking clashes and
airstrikes An Afghan police chief says 25 civilians, including women
and children, have been killed in a NATO airstrike in southern Helmand
province.

Provincial police chief Mohammad Hussein Andiwal says Taleban forces
staged an attack late Thursday in Gereshk district against NATO
forces, sparking clashes and airstrikes. The police chief said among
the dead are nine women, three children and 20 suspected Taleban
insurgents.

NATO spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Smith says the alliance is
concerned about reports of civilian deaths, but blamed the Taleban,
saying militants initiated the violence.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said NATO and the separate U.S.-led
coalition must do more to stop the killing of civilians during
military operations against insurgents.

This week, a coalition of Afghan and western aid agencies said 230
civilians have been killed this year alone, caught up in the crossfire
of military operations by international forces in Afghanistan.

NATO officials have said they are examining ways to prevent civilian
deaths. They have also stressed that Taleban attacks have endangered
innocent Afghans.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.