US Afghan strikes ‘killed dozens’

The Red Cross says air strikes by US forces in Afghanistan on Tuesday are now thought to have killed dozens of civilians including women and children.

The organisation says the civilians were sheltering from fighting in the province of Farah when their houses were struck.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he has ordered an investigation.

Civilian casualties will be high on the agenda when Mr Karzai meets President Barack Obama in Washington later.

The Afghan president has repeatedly urged Western forces in Afghanistan to reduce the numbers of civilian casualties.

But the BBC’s Martin Patience, in Kabul, says the talks could be overshadowed if the Red Cross report of dozens of civilian deaths is confirmed.

Mr Karzai will meet Mr Obama for talks with Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, who is facing a growing crisis in his country amid a new outbreak of fighting between the army and Taleban rebels in the Swat valley region.

On Tuesday the US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, told a congressional hearing in Washington that Pakistan must do more to combat the Taleban.

‘Sheltering’

Our correspondent in Kabul said local officials had told him they saw the bodies of about 20 women and children in two trucks.

Afghan President Karzai faces anger from his people over civilian deaths

A spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross said a team of observers sent to the site of the air strikes saw houses destroyed and dozens of dead bodies, including women and children.

“We can absolutely confirm there were civilian casualties,” Jessica Barry said.

“It seemed they were trying to shelter in houses when they were hit.”

The governor of Farah province, Rohul Amin, backed the Red Cross’ verdict that civilians died in the air strikes, but could not confirm numbers.

Regional politicians told news agencies that as many as 150 people had been killed, but there was no independent confirmation of that figure.

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