US helicopter attack on Afghan village kills 11

A US helicopter attack on a village in southern Afghanistan yesterday has  killed 11 people.

A US helicopter attack on a village in southern Afghanistan yesterday has  killed 11 people.

The governor of Uruzgan confirmed that four men, four children and three women were killed in the bombing.

He said US authorities had told him they spotted ammunition during their search of the village, which apparently raised suspicions.  During the search "the people were afraid, they started running", he said.

Mr Abdul Rahman, chief of Char Chino district in Uruzgan province, said the attack happend at about 4 a.m. yesterday, a day after US forces hunting for Taliban rebels had searched the Saghatho village.

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"They were simple villagers, they were not Taliban. I don't know why the US bombed this home. We have informed our authorities," he said.  A spokesman for the US military in Kabul had no immediate comment.

At least 45 people have died in violence since the passing of the country's first post-Taliban constitution on January 4th.

PA