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08/12/2003
Annan 'saddened' after US raid kills nine children
Secretary-General Kofi Annan has been "profoundly saddened" by reports that nine children have been killed in Afghanistan as a result of US air raids.
The air raid on Saturday was mounted against a Taleban leader near Ghazni.
Coalition forces have stated that they will conduct an investigation into the incident. Mr Annan has called for the probe to be "comprehensive", contain measures whereby such tragedies can be avoided in the future and that its results be made public.
A spokesperson for Kofi Annan said: "This is not the first time innocents have been killed as a result of coalition airstrikes in Afghanistan."
Stressing that the protection of civilians in armed conflict was "an obligation of all parties", Mr Annan said the fight against terrorism "cannot be won at the expense of innocent lives".
Meanwhile, Mr Annan's envoy in the country, Lakhdar Brahimi, today issued a statement voicing "profound distress" at the news.
A spokesman for Mr Brahimi said the incident "adds to the sense of insecurity and fear in the country".
He also voiced "shock and dismay" following an explosion in a popular Kandahar market on Saturday.
"These are utterly condemnable criminal acts and the perpetrators have no justification for attacking innocent people," the spokesman said, pledging that Afghanistan and its international partners "will not be deterred by these despicable acts".
(gmcg)
The air raid on Saturday was mounted against a Taleban leader near Ghazni.
Coalition forces have stated that they will conduct an investigation into the incident. Mr Annan has called for the probe to be "comprehensive", contain measures whereby such tragedies can be avoided in the future and that its results be made public.
A spokesperson for Kofi Annan said: "This is not the first time innocents have been killed as a result of coalition airstrikes in Afghanistan."
Stressing that the protection of civilians in armed conflict was "an obligation of all parties", Mr Annan said the fight against terrorism "cannot be won at the expense of innocent lives".
Meanwhile, Mr Annan's envoy in the country, Lakhdar Brahimi, today issued a statement voicing "profound distress" at the news.
A spokesman for Mr Brahimi said the incident "adds to the sense of insecurity and fear in the country".
He also voiced "shock and dismay" following an explosion in a popular Kandahar market on Saturday.
"These are utterly condemnable criminal acts and the perpetrators have no justification for attacking innocent people," the spokesman said, pledging that Afghanistan and its international partners "will not be deterred by these despicable acts".
(gmcg)
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The Royal Marine Corps has suffered two more casualties. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed today that the British naval personnel were killed in an explosion in Afghanistan. The members of 40 Commando Royal Marines, were on a routine patrol on Sunday when the pair were hit by what is thought to be a roadside bomb.
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