Spin Boldak, Afghanistan - At least 40 civilians were killed in an air
strike in Afghanistan by foreign forces, witnesses said on Thursday, but
the U.S.-led coalition said only rebels were hit and it knew of no other
casualties.

The deaths on Tuesday in the southern province of Helmand, if
confirmed, would raise the civilian toll at the hands of foreign troops
to 110 in the past two weeks.

"Foreign troops are killing Afghans every day, but our government
has closed its eyes and does not see our casualties," local resident
Haji Ibrahim said.

Helmand governor, Assadullah Wafa, said earlier 21 civilians,
including women and children, were killed in Tuesday's air strike in
Sangin district - a major opium-growing area and the scene of a large
anti-Taliban operation by foreign troops.

The U.S.-led coalition said its troops and Afghan soldiers on patrol
in the area had come under fire on Tuesday and there were no reported
injuries to any civilians.

"During the 16-hour battle, Afghan National Army and coalition
forces fought through three separate enemy ambush sites while dozens of
Taliban fighters ... reinforced enemy positions," the coalition said in
a statement.

It estimated 200 Taliban fighters were involved in the clash, in
which one coalition soldier died, and said the air strikes destroyed
three rebel compounds and an underground tunnel network.

Governor Wafa said the Taliban hid in civilian homes during the air
strike and that they must take responsibility for the deaths.

Residents disputed that Taliban fighters were involved. "There were
no Taliban in our area," Mohammad Rahim, a resident of Sangin, told
Reuters by phone, adding he had seen 24 bodies in three houses.

One resident said President Hamid Karzai should travel to Sangin and
see for himself the civilian casualties.

Civilian deaths are a growing issue for Karzai who is also under
pressure over the country's slow economic recovery and rampant
corruption since the Taliban's overthrow in 2001.

Karzai has repeatedly urged the troops to avoid civilian casualties
while hunting militants, to stop searching people's houses and to
coordinate attacks with his government.

Last week, Karzai said the patience of Afghans was running out over
civilian killings by foreign troops.

Irate Afghans in the east and west, the scenes of last month's
operations by coalition forces, have protested against civilian
casualties reported by Afghan officials, and demanded the withdrawal of
foreign forces and Karzai's resignation.

A U.S. military commander on Tuesday apologized for the deaths of 19
civilians in the east. They were killed by U.S. troops early last month

I tell you this tactic reminds me of Vietnam where the viet-congs used
to hide in hospitals,schools,churches and the same thing happened to
them. A sad affair indeed and shouldn't have happen but, the Terrorist
are fundalmental radicalist and must be stop at all cause. There is also
two sides maybe information was given wrong. Then, the possibilities
that these people were forced to harbor the terrorist and then again
maybe these people are supporters.

Wonder how much money those villages make from the opium farms that
surround them?

They had to have know what was in those fields and what the result would
eventually be.