February 05, 2008	Tuesday	Muharram 26, 1429

HERAT, Feb 4: An air strike allegedly targeting a Taliban commander has killed seven civilians from one family in south-western Afghanistan, provincial officials said on Monday.

The air strike took place in the Bakwa district of Farah province late on Sunday and killed one woman, two children and four men, officials said.

“Mullah Malang, a Taliban commander in the district, was the target, but he was not among the casualties,” police said.

The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said none of its aircraft were involved in any air strikes in Farah, and the separate US-led coalition said it was still checking the reports.

A total of 1,977 civilians were killed in 2007 in fighting in Afghanistan, including nearly 240 who lost their lives in air strikes by foreign troops, according to Afghanistan NGO Safety Office.

Meanwhile, Afghan forces killed nearly 10 Taliban fighters during a sweep in the Deh Rawood district of Uruzgan province on Sunday, police said.—Reuters