UN says Afghans killed an a coalition raid last weekend were students
By APThursday, December 31, 2009
UN says killed Afghans were students
KABUL — The United Nations says a raid last weekend by foreign troops in a tense eastern Afghan province killed eight local students.
The Afghan government says that all 10 people killed in a village in Kunar province were civilians. NATO says there is no evidence to substantiate the claim and has requested a joint investigation.
UN special representative in Afghanistan Kai Eide said in a statement Thursday that preliminary investigation shows there were insurgents in the area at the time of the attack. But he adds that eight of those killed were students in local schools.
Eide says the UN remains concerned about nighttime raids by coalition troops because they often kill civilians.
The attack sparked protests by Afghans against foreign troops.
