NATO forces fired on a bus with civilians onboard near Kandahar city on Monday morning. Four people were killed and 18 injured, Afghan officials said.
The attack sparked a demonstration at the location of the incident—about 200 enraged Afghans blocked the highway with burning tires and chanted slogans like “Death to America.”
“The Americans are constantly killing our civilians and the government is not demanding an explanation,” a protester on the street told AP.
Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai condemned the attack, saying that “this shooting involving a civilian bus violates NATO’s commitment to safeguard civilian life.”
NATO officials said in a statement that they “deeply regret the tragic loss of life,” explaining that the troops opened fire after the bus driver, approaching the military patrol clearing roadside bombs, ignored flashlights and hand signals to slow down.
“Perceiving a threat when the vehicle approached once more at an increased rate of speed, the patrol attempted to warn off the vehicle with hand signals prior to firing upon it,” the NATO statement said.
U.S.-led forces are currently involved in a massive anti-Taliban operation in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan, with the plan to move the offensive to Kandahar. Although NATO is making efforts to win public support, incidents involving civilian deaths usually undermine support for their presence in the country.
Chief NATO commander in Afghanistan, U.S. General Stanley McChrystal, issued strict measures last year to reduce civilian casualties, including reducing the number of air strikes and night raids. But convoy and checkpoint shootings have not declined. Five civilians, including three Afghan women, were killed last week by NATO soldiers during a botched night time raid.
NATO Soldiers Kill Four Civilians in Afghanistan
By Peter Sedik/Epoch Times Staff
NATO forces fired on a bus with civilians onboard near Kandahar city on Monday morning. Four people were killed and 18 injured, Afghan officials said.
The attack sparked a demonstration at the location of the incident—about 200 enraged Afghans blocked the highway with burning tires and chanted slogans like “Death to America.”
“The Americans are constantly killing our civilians and the government is not demanding an explanation,” a protester on the street told AP.
Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai condemned the attack, saying that “this shooting involving a civilian bus violates NATO’s commitment to safeguard civilian life.”
NATO officials said in a statement that they “deeply regret the tragic loss of life,” explaining that the troops opened fire after the bus driver, approaching the military patrol clearing roadside bombs, ignored flashlights and hand signals to slow down.
“Perceiving a threat when the vehicle approached once more at an increased rate of speed, the patrol attempted to warn off the vehicle with hand signals prior to firing upon it,” the NATO statement said.
U.S.-led forces are currently involved in a massive anti-Taliban operation in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan, with the plan to move the offensive to Kandahar. Although NATO is making efforts to win public support, incidents involving civilian deaths usually undermine support for their presence in the country.
Chief NATO commander in Afghanistan, U.S. General Stanley McChrystal, issued strict measures last year to reduce civilian casualties, including reducing the number of air strikes and night raids. But convoy and checkpoint shootings have not declined. Five civilians, including three Afghan women, were killed last week by NATO soldiers during a botched night time raid.
Photo Caption(s) & Photo Location(s) BACKLASH: Afghan police stand guard as protesters burn tires during a demonstration on the outskirts of Kandahar city on April 12. Four civilians were killed and 18 wounded on April 12 when NATO troops fired on a bus in Afghanistan, sparking a furious protest and shouts of ‘death to America’, officials and witnesses said. STR/AFP/Getty Images
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Author Peter Sedik
By Line Epoch Times Staff
Print Hed NATO Soldiers Killed Four Civilians in Afghanistan
Publish US Print 2010-04-13
The attack sparked a demonstration at the location of the incident—about 200 enraged Afghans blocked the highway with burning tires and chanted slogans like “Death to America.”
“The Americans are constantly killing our civilians and the government is not demanding an explanation,” a protester on the street told AP.
Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai condemned the attack, saying that “this shooting involving a civilian bus violates NATO’s commitment to safeguard civilian life.”
NATO officials said in a statement that they “deeply regret the tragic loss of life,” explaining that the troops opened fire after the bus driver, approaching the military patrol clearing roadside bombs, ignored flashlights and hand signals to slow down.
“Perceiving a threat when the vehicle approached once more at an increased rate of speed, the patrol attempted to warn off the vehicle with hand signals prior to firing upon it,” the NATO statement said.
U.S.-led forces are currently involved in a massive anti-Taliban operation in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan, with the plan to move the offensive to Kandahar. Although NATO is making efforts to win public support, incidents involving civilian deaths usually undermine support for their presence in the country.
Chief NATO commander in Afghanistan, U.S. General Stanley McChrystal, issued strict measures last year to reduce civilian casualties, including reducing the number of air strikes and night raids. But convoy and checkpoint shootings have not declined. Five civilians, including three Afghan women, were killed last week by NATO soldiers during a botched night time raid.
NATO Soldiers Kill Four Civilians in Afghanistan
By Peter Sedik/Epoch Times Staff
NATO forces fired on a bus with civilians onboard near Kandahar city on Monday morning. Four people were killed and 18 injured, Afghan officials said.
The attack sparked a demonstration at the location of the incident—about 200 enraged Afghans blocked the highway with burning tires and chanted slogans like “Death to America.”
“The Americans are constantly killing our civilians and the government is not demanding an explanation,” a protester on the street told AP.
Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai condemned the attack, saying that “this shooting involving a civilian bus violates NATO’s commitment to safeguard civilian life.”
NATO officials said in a statement that they “deeply regret the tragic loss of life,” explaining that the troops opened fire after the bus driver, approaching the military patrol clearing roadside bombs, ignored flashlights and hand signals to slow down.
“Perceiving a threat when the vehicle approached once more at an increased rate of speed, the patrol attempted to warn off the vehicle with hand signals prior to firing upon it,” the NATO statement said.
U.S.-led forces are currently involved in a massive anti-Taliban operation in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan, with the plan to move the offensive to Kandahar. Although NATO is making efforts to win public support, incidents involving civilian deaths usually undermine support for their presence in the country.
Chief NATO commander in Afghanistan, U.S. General Stanley McChrystal, issued strict measures last year to reduce civilian casualties, including reducing the number of air strikes and night raids. But convoy and checkpoint shootings have not declined. Five civilians, including three Afghan women, were killed last week by NATO soldiers during a botched night time raid.
Photo Caption(s) & Photo Location(s) BACKLASH: Afghan police stand guard as protesters burn tires during a demonstration on the outskirts of Kandahar city on April 12. Four civilians were killed and 18 wounded on April 12 when NATO troops fired on a bus in Afghanistan, sparking a furious protest and shouts of ‘death to America’, officials and witnesses said. STR/AFP/Getty Images
Tags No tags attached.
Attach Tags (Separate by “,”)
Author Peter Sedik
By Line Epoch Times Staff
Print Hed NATO Soldiers Killed Four Civilians in Afghanistan
Publish US Print 2010-04-13
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