US probe finds fewer Afghan deaths than UN claimed

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

US probe finds fewer Afghan deaths than UN claimed

By JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 18 minutes ago

KABUL, Afghanistan - A U.S. investigation into U.N. and Afghan allegations that dozens of civilians were killed during an operation in a small village found Tuesday that up to seven civilians died but that the overwhelming majority of the dead were Taliban.

An Afghan government commission concluded that 90 civilians were killed in the Aug. 22 fighting in Azizabad — a claim backed by a preliminary U.N. report. The U.S. report Tuesday said 30 to 35 of those killed were Taliban fighters.

The civilian death claims in Azizabad has caused new friction between President Hamid Karzai and his Western supporters. Karzai has long castigated Western military commanders over civilian deaths resulting from their raids.

The U.S. report said American and Afghan forces took fire from militants while approaching Azizabad. The incoming fire "justified use of well-aimed small-arms fire and close air support to defend the combined force," the report said.

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Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080902/ap_on_re_as/afghanistan

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Also: U.S. says probe finds lower Afghan civilian toll - Reuters