November 18, 2003	Tuesday	Ramazan 22, 1424

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KABUL, Nov 17: Six Afghan civilians were killed in an aerial bombardment by US-led forces hunting Taliban militants in the eastern province of Paktika, provincial governor Mohammad Ali Jalali said on Monday.

Jalali told Reuters that Saturday’s attack in the Barmal district of Paktika province near the Pakistani border was close to a US base in Shkin. Taliban and Al Qaeda militants have frequently attacked troops in that area, he added.

“Six civilians lost their lives,” Jalali said. “I don’t know if they were all members of the same family or from different families.”

US-led forces backed by air support were conducting an operation against suspected guerillas at the time of the bombardment, he said.