14 civilians die in NATO strike

AN air strike called in by NATO-led troops in southern Afghanistan killed 12 children and two women, Afghan officials said yesterday — one of the worst civilian death tolls by foreign forces in months.

A US Marine base came under fire from insurgents in the Taliban stronghold of Helmand on Saturday, the Helmand governor said, leading the base to call for help from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

“ISAF’s air strike took place on two civilian houses. Unfortunately 14 innocent civilians were killed and six civilians wounded,” the Helmand governor’s statement said.