March 06, 2007	Tuesday	Safar 16, 1428

KABUL, March 5: Nine Afghans died when Nato air and artillery hit their home north of here during a battle with militants, officials said on Monday, the second deadly incident involving civilians in two days.

The Nato action came as Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the killing of up to 10 civilians on Sunday when US forces opened fire following a suicide ambush.

Five women and two children were among the dead when Nato forces responded to the overnight attack on their base in Kapisa province, deputy provincial governor Sayed Daud Hashimi said.

An intelligence official who confirmed the death toll of nine said there were reports a militant had fired a rocket at the base of the Nato provincial reconstruction team from his home nearby.

“It seems that the casualties were relatives of that Taliban,” the Kabul-based official said. He could not say whether the suspected militant was also killed.

Interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary confirmed there was an incident in Kapisa’s Nijrab district involving “some casualties” but had no more details.—AFP