RENEE MONTAGNE, host:
This is MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne.
In southern Afghanistan, NATO strikes have killed as many as 85 civilians west of the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar.
Mark Laity is a spokesman for NATO. He confirms alliance air strikes and mortar bombardments have left 12 villagers dead in the Panjwai district earlier this week. He told the BBC NATO was aiming Taliban fighters.
Mr. MARK LAITY (NATO Spokesman): We're sure that we hit the target we intended. We're sure that there were insurgents there. What we don't know is whether there were civilians and how many. I think it's credible that civilians have died and it's credible that we may therefore be responsible. If that's the case, we're very sorry.
MONTAGNE: The Panjwai district has been the site of heavy fighting between NATO forces and the Taliban since May. A spokesman for 30 tribal elders said that the Taliban came into several villages from the desert and took shelter. They then launched an attack, using the locals as human shields. Some eyewitnesses report differently, but NATO's Mark Laity adds…
Mr. LAITY: In areas like this, people very often say that there was no Taliban.
MONTAGNE: President Karzai has ordered a team of tribal elders to conduct an investigation. NATO's Mark Laity says no matter what the investigation reveals…
Mr. LAITY: That when attacks like this happen and they go wrong, if civilians are killed, it upsets the local population and reduces their high opinion of this.
MONTAGNE: Elsewhere in southern Afghanistan, a roadside blast killed 14 villagers as they were headed for Muslim holiday celebrations. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
