Kandahar official says US bombing raid on wedding party killed tens of civilians

THE GOVERNOR of Kandahar has confirmed that a US-led bombing raid on an Afghan wedding party killed 37 civilians earlier this week.

A delegation of Kandahari officials sent to the Shah Wali Kot district, where Monday’s bombing took place, said 31 civilians were injured in the raid and that 38 Taliban militants were killed during the operation.

The US military on Sunday said a joint investigation with Afghan officials and Afghan security forces had revealed that 37 civilians were killed and 35 were wounded after an Afghan army patrol was ambushed by Taliban militants near the district's Wech Baghtu village.

Elders from the district told the US military’s joint investigation that insurgents had fired from civilian homes in the village, a US military statement read.

"The villagers also stated that insurgents prevented the families from leaving the village, indicating a deliberate attempt to cause civilian casualties," the statement read.

The US military also reported that villagers saw militants attempting to use residents as human shields.

Close air support was called in to "suppress enemy fire", the statement read.

"Our primary effort is to provide security for the civilian population," said Colonel Greg Julian, US Forces Afghanistan spokesman.

"Civilians getting caught in the crossfire is the worst possible thing that could happen. We regret this tragic loss of innocent lives and express our condolences to the families and to the people of Afghanistan."

On Saturday, President Karzai called elders and villagers in the area to express his condolences and to order the authorities there to provide compensation to the victims’ families.

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