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Nato in deadly Afghan air strike in Logar province - BBC News

6 June 2012 Last updated at 06:08 ET Nato said two women were injured in the raid, but made no mention of civilian deaths
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Nato planes have carried out an air strike in the Afghan province of Logar, south of the capital Kabul, with several people reported dead.
Nato said "multiple insurgents" were killed, and the air strike had been called after Afghan and foreign troops came under fire from militants.
Afghan officials said 18 civilians died, including women and children.
Widespread reports of civilian deaths during air strikes often draw angry criticism from Afghan officials.
Tribal elders and officials in Logar told the BBC that top Taliban commanders had gathered at a house in a remote village in the district of Baraki Barak.
Afghan and Nato forces surrounded the house and warned the Taliban to surrender, but then came under intense fire.
Nato forces called for an air strike.
According to Afghan intelligence officials the strike killed 18 civilians, including women and children who were in the houses at the time.
At least eight Taliban commanders were also killed.
A statement from Isaf, Nato's Afghan operation, confirmed much of the account. But it did not mention civilian deaths.
"While conducting a follow-on assessment, the security force discovered two women who had sustained non-life-threatening injuries," the statement said.
"The security force provided medical assistance and transported both women to an Isaf medical facility for treatment."
The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says the issue of civilian casualties at the hands of Nato is highly sensitive.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has issued several warnings to the Nato-led mission that killing Afghan civilians, even by accident, is unacceptable.