Karzai Condemns NATO Killing Of Two Boys

March 03, 2013

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has condemned a NATO helicopter strike in which two boys, both under the age of 7, were shot dead after being mistaken as Taliban insurgents.

The boys were tending livestock and collecting firewood when they were killed on February 28 in the strike in the southern Uruzgan Province.

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force says it takes “full responsibility” for the tragedy, which comes amid rising anger among Afghans over the number of civilian deaths caused by international troops.

Australia, whose 1,100 Afghan forces are based mainly in Uruzgan, have also apologized for the incident.

Military officials, however, say it is not clear whether it was Australian or American soldiers who were responsible for the strike.

NATO combat troops are set to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of next year.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP