Afghans die in Nato shootings

01/02/2009| IslamWeb

At least three civilians, including two children, have been killed in two separate incidents involving international troops in Afghanistan, according to the Nato force.

 

The two children died after troops from Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) clashed with Taliban fighters in Helmand province, it said in a statement on Sunday.

 

In the second incident on Saturday, a tribal leader died after soldiers opened fire on his vehicle in the eastern province of Paktia.

 

Another passenger in the vehicle was wounded in the attack.

 

Civilian casualties have eroded public support for foreign forces operating in Afghanistan and the government of Hamid Karzai, the country's president.

 

Karzai has demanded that US and Nato forces do more to stop civilian deaths during their operations.

 

Suicide attack

 

In yet another incident on Sunday, three people were injured in a suicide car bomb attack on a French military convoy in Kabul.

 

The blast took place in the southwestern outskirts of the Afghan capital, on a road that leads to the Wardak province.

 

The injured were a French soldier and two civilians, France's interior ministry said.

 

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the Reuters news agency.

 

There have been regular suicide attacks in Afghanistan where about 70,000 international troops are deployed.

 

About 30,000 more US soldiers are expected to be sent to Afghanistan in 2009 as Barack Obama's administration plans to shift its foreign policy-focus away from Iraq.

 

 

 

PHOTO CAPTION

 

Afghanistan map locating Helmand province

 

Agencies