Inquiry is ordered in killing of Afghans

KABUL, Afghanistan — President Hamid Karzai on Friday ordered an investigation into the killings of eight people in a raid that U.S. forces said had targeted al-Qaida members but police said were civilians — the second time in a week his government has questioned the military's tactics.

The inquiry into Thursday's deaths in eastern Kunar province was Karzai's latest show of displeasure in the coalition forces that he depends on to protect his weak government from resurgent Taliban and al-Qaida militants.

A statement released by Karzai's office said he had ordered a "thorough investigation" into the killings, including the death of a 10-year-old child. Kunar's governor and local lawmakers have gone on a fact-finding trip to the area.

"While saddened by the loss of civilian lives, the president is awaiting the conclusion of the investigation," the statement said.

The U.S. military said a joint American-Afghan force descended on a compound in Shigal district to nab an "al-Qaida facilitator" wanted for attacks on coalition and Afghan forces in the region.

Gunmen inside the compound shot at the troops, who returned fire and killed seven suspected al-Qaida members, including the facilitator, the military said. A child also was killed in the clash and a woman was wounded.

But police said the U.S.-led forces attacked a building where two families were trying to resolve a dispute with the help of tribal elders.

"According to our district chief, the people who have been killed in the incident this morning are civilians from Shigal district," Abdul Sabur Alluhyar, the deputy provincial police chief said Thursday, adding that someone had given the coalition incorrect information that an al-Qaida meeting was taking place at the compound.

The raid came a week after coalition aircraft destroyed two trucks used in an insurgent attack that killed an Afghan soldier in southeastern Paktika province. Afghan officials said 10 border police were killed in the strike.

Karzai quickly condemned coalition forces for that strike. But U.S. officials said they were confident that they had targeted militants and not police.

There have been numerous other incidents of civilians killed in coalition operations against Taliban and al-Qaida fighters. In April, clashes between insurgents and U.S., Canadian and British troops in southern Afghanistan left 13 civilians dead.

The U.S.-led coalition and NATO say they go to extreme lengths to avoid inflicting civilian casualties and accuse insurgents of blending in with local populations while attacking foreign and Afghan soldiers.