Karzai condemns Nato-led air strike that killed ten election staff

Published on Thursday 2 September 2010 16:47

AFGHAN President Hamid Karzai yesterday condemned an air strike by Nato-led forces which he said killed ten campaign workers for this month's election.

His comments came as? US defence secretary Robert Gates arrived for talks in the wake of corruption scandals.

Civilian casualties caused by foreign forces hunting militants have been a major source of tension between Mr Karzai and his western allies.

Yesterday's attack happened in the Rostaq district of Takhar, a province in the north near Tajikistan that has been relatively peaceful, unlike Taleban strongholds in the south and east of the country.

Spokesman Faiz Mohammad Tawhidi said the candidate, Abdul Wahid, and some supporters were wounded in the air strike. A statement issued by the presidential palace said Nato aircraft conducted the strike.

"The president strongly condemned this attack, saying air bombardments in the villages of Afghanistan will only end up killing civilians and will not be effective in the fight against terrorism," it added.

The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force confirmed that a precision air strike against a senior member of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan had taken place.

Nato said a vehicle travelling in a six-car convoy was hit and that eight to 12 insurgents were killed or injured, including a Taleban commander.