US air strikes 'kill 90 civilians'

Air strikes by coalition forces in western Afghanistan killed 90 Afghan civilians last week, according to reports.

UN Special Envoy to Afghanistan Kai Eide said in a statement: "Investigations by UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) found convincing evidence, based on the testimony of eyewitnesses, and others, that some 90 civilians were killed, including 60 children, 15 women and 15 men."

The issue of civilian casualties has driven a rift between the Afghan government and its Nato backers.

Afghan president Hamid Karzai said earlier this month that air strikes had achieved nothing and had only succeeded in killing ordinary Afghans.

The US military has launched an investigation into the incident, after first saying it was unaware of any civilian casualties in what it said was an air strike on a known Taliban commander that killed 30 militants.

The Afghan government on Monday ordered the review of operations by foreign forces amid mounting discontent over civilian casualties nearly seven years after coalition forces toppled the Taliban, presidential spokesman Humayun Hamidzada said.

The order foresees a set of laws to be drafted in consultation with foreign forces and then approved by the Afghan parliament, Mr Hamidzada said.

It says the presence of the international community in Afghanistan must be reviewed through mutual agreement.

The order also reiterated the previous government's demands on banning air strikes on civilian targets, un-coordinated house searches and the illegal detention of Afghan civilians.

Mr Hamidzada added: "The patience of the Afghan people has ran out. We no longer can afford to see the killing of our children."

UNAMA said it sent its human rights team to the Shindand area to investigate the latest incident, meeting local officials, elders and villagers.

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