Afghanistan: 'Scores killed'

Hundreds of civilians have reportedly been killed or injured during airstrikes by Western forces in the lawless Afghan province of Helmand.In the Lashkar Gah hospital, Shokhi Khan, a relative of one of the wounded, said people had gathered for picnics and to go to a shrine in Baghran district north of Lashkar Gah when the raids started.In neighbouring Kandahar, a group of wounded civilians were also brought to a hospital. Journalists were barred from filming or talking to them inside the wards.Haji Hakim Jan, a 27-year-old barefooted man, lost four of his brothers and said: "I had another brother of mine and aneight-year-old sister wounded in the bombing.At least 20 wounded civilians were brought to a main hospital in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital, Helmand's police chief Mohammad Hussein Andiwal said.He said: "I can confirm there were heavy bombardments. We have heard of heavy casualties too and have sent a team to investigate this."On Thursday, the US military said in a statement that coalition forces conducted a precision air strike against two "notorious Taliban commanders" conducting a leadership meeting in a remote area of the Baghran district.If confirmed, the deaths would be the highest civilian casualties caused in a single air raid by foreign troops since the overthrow of the Taliban government in 2001.More than 350 civilians have already been killed in operations by foreign forces this year in Afghanistan, according to government officials and aid workers.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | August 3, 2007

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