KABUL, June 30 (KUNA) -- An Afghan governor Monday said at least seven civilians have been killed in air strikes by the coalition troops against Taliban in a western Afghan province. The strike was carried out in Khashrod district of Afghanistan's western Nimroz province on Sunday.
In an earlier statement, the US-led coalition troops said they had killed 28 Taliban while arrested a few more during the ground and air operation against the militants. However, Governor of the province Ghulam Dastagir Azad said seven civilians had also been killed in the strike. He told journalists that there was a Taliban meeting in a house in Khashrod district when the troosp raided them. He said the airstrike resulted in killing of nearly 30 Taliban, but seven civilians also perished in the swoop. The US troops did not mention the civilian casualties in their statement. Meanwhile, the Taliban repudiated the claim by the Afghan government and the coalition troops. Spokesman Yousaf Ahmadi said none of their men was killed in Khashrod district operation. A statement from the Defence Ministry in Kabul said that one local soldier was killed and three others wounded as their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Paktia province in the southeastern zone. (end) gk.bz.
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