US special forces mistook a group of Afghan allies for al-Qaeda fighters and opened fire, killing three of them, in the latest friendly-fire mishap of the Afghan war.
The shooting took place yesterday in the region in the east of the country where US and British troops are hunting for remnants of the Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters.
US army spokesman Colonel Roger King said late last night US special forces accompanied by Afghan military officials were not aware of the presence of Afghan allies in a compound where al Qaeda and Taliban leaders were believed to be meeting.
"Initial review efforts have revealed that the men in the compound were part of another Afghan element from another district in Afghanistan...allied with the interim authority, at least that's what they purport to be," Col King said.
Two Afghans wounded in the shooting in Khomar Kalay village near the city of Gardez, capital of Paktia province, were being treated at an allied hospital, he said.
Col King said there was a report that one of the men in the armed group had shouted they were there to kill al-Qaeda, which apparently had been ignored.
He said an investigation of the shooting was underway and steps would be taken to prevent such incidents happening again.
