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.

It said seven boys, five girls and two women were among the dead. Three children were among the six wounded, it said.

An ISAF spokesman in Kabul said an assessment team had gone to the area.