US pays $40,000 after 15 Afghans die in raid [View All]

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Source: AP

US pays $40,000 after 15 Afghans die in raid


Associated Press Writer Jason Straziuso, Associated Press Writer – – – U.S. commanders on Tuesday traveled to a poor Afghan village and distributed $40,000 to relatives of 15 people killed in a U.S. raid, including a known militant commander. The Americans also apologized for any civilians killed in the operation.

The issue of civilian deaths is increasingly sensitive in Afghanistan, with President Hamid Karzai accusing the U.S. of killing civilians in three separate cases over the last month. Karzai has repeatedly warned the U.S. and NATO to guard against killing civilians, saying such deaths undermine his government and the international mission.

Karzai met Tuesday in the capital with relatives of some of those killed. He told the villagers he has given the U.S. and NATO one month to respond to a draft agreement that calls for increased Afghan participation in military operations.

The president said if he does not receive a U.S. or NATO response within that time, he would ask Afghans what he should do about international military operations. The statement from the presidential palace describing the meeting did not elaborate.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090127/ap_on_re_as/as_afghan_civilian_deaths;_ylt=AkbO5qruOHhAwpAbEv9rAaJvaA8F