Nato chief apologises for 18 deaths in airstrike

The commander of Nato troops in Afghanistan has apologised for civilian deaths in an airstrike earlier this week – the first confirmation by Nato forces that civilians died in the operation.

US Marine General John Allen flew to Logar province yesterday to say sorry to villagers and local officials for the deaths of women, children and village elders in Wednesday’s pre-dawn raid to capture a Taleban leader.

Afghan officials have said the airstrike called in by Nato troops killed 18 civilians at a wedding party.

“I know no apology can bring back the children or people who perished in this tragedy, but I want you to know that you have my apology,” Gen Allen told a group of about two dozen Afghans gathered at a base in the provincial capital , Pul-i-Alam.

Night raids on militants taking cover in villages have been a repeated source of strain between the Kabul government, which says the raids put civilians at risk, and its international allies, who say such operations are key to rooting out insurgents.

A deal signed in April was supposed to resolve the issue by putting the Afghans in charge of such operations, and the troops involved in Wednesday’s raid included Afghan soldiers. But president Hamid Karzai has put the blame for this week’s deaths on the international coalition, condemning their actions and calling for them to give a fuller account of why children were among the dead.

Nato and Afghan officials have said the troops were out to capture a Taleban leader hiding in the house in Sajawand, in Baraki Barak district. As they tried to breach the compound, they came under fire and called in an airstrike.

Villagers have said the house was full of families there for a wedding the night before.