The Hindu : International : Civilians die in U.S. strike

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 01, 2004

International

International

Civilians die in U.S. strike

KABUL, AUG. 31. U.S. warplanes bombed a village in eastern Afghanistan, killing eight persons and destroying the camp of a Danish relief group after assailants rocketed a nearby government office, Afghan officials and the director of the international aid group said on Tuesday.

The incident began late on Monday when assailants fired 25 rockets at the Mayor's office in Mano Gai, 170 km east of Kabul, said Sayed Fazel Akbar, the Governor of Kunar province. Police responded with small arms fire, he said.

``Then the American planes came and bombarded Weradesh village,'' from where the rockets were launched, he said. ``There are casualties there, but we don't know how many or if they are civilians or the enemy.''

U.S. military officials had no immediate comment.

The Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees, or DACAAR, which had a team working in Weradesh, said at least two bombs were dropped around midnight and that eight villagers had been killed. The group's 14 staff fled their darkened camp on the edge of the village seconds before it was struck by one bomb, said Gorm Pederson, the group's director. One worker was injured and several of the group's vehicles were damaged. ``Our people decided to take shelter,'' Mr. Pederson said.

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