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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

AIUSA media office, 202-544-0200 x302, lspann@aiusa.org

Amnesty International Demands That United States Conduct Transparent, Independent Investigation into Afghan Civilian Deaths

WASHINGTON

Amnesty International demanded the United States immediately conduct independent, credible, and transparent investigations into air strikes in western Afghanistan that reportedly lead to the death of more than 100 civilians, including women and children.
The civilians reportedly died as a result of aerial bombardment in support of Afghan National Army units engaged in heavy combat with Taliban in the western province of Farah overnight on Monday into Tuesday. According to the governor of Farah Province, Rohul Amin, the Taliban were taking shelter in civilian homes during the fighting.

If the figures are verified, this attack was one of the deadliest for civilians since the United States ousted the Taliban in 2001.

Amnesty International pointed out the Taliban and other insurgent groups are documented to have frequently launched attacks from civilian areas knowing that they will attract military response from the Afghan government and allied international military forces.

Robert Wood, a U.S. State Department spokesperson, has announced a joint investigation with the Afghan government into the incident. In several previous incidents of civilian deaths allegedly caused by the U.S. military, the official investigation has been criticized as incomplete or inaccurate by the Afghan government as well as local and international human rights groups.

According to U.N. figures, last year alone saw 2,200 civilians killed, over half in insurgent attacks and nearly 40 percent by foreign and Afghan forces. There are currently around 70,000 foreign troops operating in Afghanistan, more than half of them from the United States.

Amnesty International is a global movement of millions of people demanding human rights for all people - no matter who they are or where they are. We are the world's largest grassroots human rights organization.

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