ISAF confirms air strikes, says civilians may have been killed
(22 Jun 2007) SHOTLIST 1. Various set up shots of NATO ISAF spokesman, Major John Thomas 2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Major John Thomas, ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) spokesman: "Last night in Helmand province, 14 kilometres outside of Gereshk, there was an engagement between ISAF troops and Taliban fighters. The Taliban had fired against the ISAF troops and in returning fire to the compound, the ISAF troops killed some enemy insurgents. It is possible that when we look at the situation now there may have been some civilians in that compound as well. If there were, ISAF truly regrets the lost of any civilian lives." 3. Cutaway of US Air Force badge 4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Major John Thomas, ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) spokesman: "Our initial indications were that there were about 30 insurgent fighters in the compound that we fired upon, if there were any civilians in the compound we regret the loss of life or injury, but we don't have a number of how many civilians there might be and we are trying to assess how civilians may have been killed, if they were, because at this point we have no indication how they may have died." 5. End shot of Major Thomas STORYLINE Suspected Taliban militants attacked southern Afghanistan police posts, triggering clashes and NATO airstrikes that left 25 civilians and 20 militants dead, a senior police officer said on Friday. The militants attacked police and used civilian houses for cover in Helmand province's Gereshk district late on Thursday, said police. NATO responded by calling in airstrikes that killed 20 suspected militants - but also 25 civilians, including nine women, three babies and the mullah of a local mosque, officials claimed. Taliban used at least two civilian compounds for cover during the clashes, which lasted into early Friday. NATO said the aircraft struck after insurgents attacked troops from its International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) 14 kilometres (9 miles) northeast of Gereshk town. "The Taliban had fired against the ISAF troops and in returning fire to the compound, the ISAF troops killed some enemy insurgents. It is possible that when we look at the situation now there may have been some civilians in that compound as well," said Major John Thomas, a ISAF spokesman. "Our initial indications were that there were about 30 insurgent fighters in the compound that we fired upon, if there were any civilians in the compound we regret the loss of life or injury." Thomas did not confirm the number of civilian casualties given by Afghan police. "We don't have a number of how many civilians there might be and we are trying to assess how civilians may have been killed, if they were, because at this point we have no indication how they may have died," said Thomas. If confirmed, the casualties in Gereshk would bring the number of civilians killed in NATO or U.S.-led military operations this year to 177, according to an Associated Press tally of figures provided by Afghan officials and witness report. Some 169 civilians were killed in militant attacks this year, which have included a spate of suicide bombings. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
