U.S.-Afghan raid targeting bomb-maker kills 5

[unhappycamper]

U.S.-Afghan raid targeting bomb-maker kills 5
By Jason Straziuso - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Mar 14, 2009 11:04:40 EDT

KABUL — An overnight raid by U.S. coalition troops and Afghan special forces killed five militants during a mission targeting the leader of a roadside bomb-making cell south of Kabul, a U.S. spokesman said Saturday.

However, a spokesman for the governor of Logar province said a government delegation had confirmed those killed were civilians.

Angry villagers gathered in protest near a government compound later Saturday and police opened fire to keep them from storming the building, Logar governor’s spokesman Den Mohammad Darwesh said. Two people were wounded.

U.S. spokesman Col. Greg Julian denied any civilian fatalities and said militants opened fire after American and Afghan troops ordered them to surrender.

“They were five armed militants that fired on a joint force ... when they went in to get a targeted individual,” Julian said. “They called them out when they arrived, and these guys came out shooting and were killed in the process.”


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_afghanistan_raid_031409/%2e