Taliban accuses US of 'lying to the world'

Afghanistan’s Taliban Government has accused the United States of "lying to the world" by claiming it is not targeting civilians as part of its so-called "war on terrorism".

Abdul Salam Saeef, the Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan, said more than 70 civilians have died since the United States began attacks on Afghanistan on Sunday night.

They include 15 people killed yesterday evening when US missiles destroyed a mosque in Jalalabad.

"In the past days of American air raids, more than 70 civilians have been martyred in different parts of our country," Zaeef said.

"The number is increasing with the passage of time. The Pentagon is lying to the world when it says it is not hitting civilians."