US commander urged to avert civilian deaths

AFGHANISTAN said yesterday it hoped the newly named commander of US and NATO troops would do more to avert civilian deaths, which had soured relations under outgoing commander General David McKiernan.

In a surprise move, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates removed the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan on Monday and picked a former special forces commander to oversee President Barack Obama’s strategy against a growing Taliban insurgency.

Gates asked for the resignation of McKiernan less than a year into a command that normally would last 18 to 24 months.