Afghans bury their dead after US airstrike

KANDAHAR – Angry villagers dug graves yesterday to bury dozens of suspected militants and civilians killed in one of the deadliest US airstrikes since the American-led invasion in 2001, local residents said, while 19 people were killed in new violence.

Taliban fighters ambushed a police patrol in southern Afghanistan’s mountains yesterday, killing three police but leaving 12 militants dead, while in violence near the capital, three health workers and their driver were killed by a land mine, officials said. According to coalition and Afghan figures, the latest violence brings the death toll in a storm of violence that erupted a week ago to 305, mostly militants.It’s the deadliest spate of fighting in four years and comes ahead of preparations for the US-led coalition to hand over security operations in southern Afghanistan to NATO by July.The coalition said 20 Taliban were confirmed killed in the airstrike on the village of Azizi in Kandahar province late on Sunday or early Monday, while up to 60 more may also have died.Local officials said that additionally, 17 civilians had been killed, but one villager, Haji Ikhlaf, told The Associated Press that 26 civilians had been buried by early yesterday.”We’ve buried women.We’ve buried children,” Ikhlaf, 40, said by cell phone from the area, which has been closed off to reporters by local security forces.”They are killing us.We are so angry.”Villagers also dug graves of slain Taliban rebels, he said.US commander Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry said the military was “looking into” reports of civilian deaths.- Nampa-APAccording to coalition and Afghan figures, the latest violence brings the death toll in a storm of violence that erupted a week ago to 305, mostly militants.It’s the deadliest spate of fighting in four years and comes ahead of preparations for the US-led coalition to hand over security operations in southern Afghanistan to NATO by July.The coalition said 20 Taliban were confirmed killed in the airstrike on the village of Azizi in Kandahar province late on Sunday or early Monday, while up to 60 more may also have died.Local officials said that additionally, 17 civilians had been killed, but one villager, Haji Ikhlaf, told The Associated Press that 26 civilians had been buried by early yesterday.”We’ve buried women.We’ve buried children,” Ikhlaf, 40, said by cell phone from the area, which has been closed off to reporters by local security forces.”They are killing us.We are so angry.”Villagers also dug graves of slain Taliban rebels, he said.US commander Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry said the military was “looking into” reports of civilian deaths.- Nampa-AP