Another team formed to probe Wardak civilian casualties
29 January, 2013
KABUL: Government termed investigation report of Wardak civilian casualties as incomplete and formed another team to probe the killing of civilians during foreign forces operations in Warak province. Rafi Firdos, spokesman for administrative affairs office of the president, told Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) that the cabinet, during its meeting held in Kabul yesterday, discussed findings of the delegation which conducted investigations into civilian casualties in Wardak province and termed the report incomplete. "The issue needed to be probed deeply. The investigation should be completed in shortest possible time and presented to the cabinet," he quoted the president as saying. For this purpose, another 20-member team was appointed to probe the issue," he said. On Jan. 13, several civilians were killed in an explosion inside a mosque in Saidabad district of Wardak province. Eyewitnesses had told Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) that the mosque was targeted by coalition air strike while combined force also shot and killed several people including women in the surrounding houses. Local authorities, however, claimed the explosion inside the mosque was caused by the detonation of explosive placed by Taliban. President Hamid Karzai formed a delegation after the incident and asked to submit their findings to the cabinet. Rafi Firdos, however, did not disclose who is leading the second probe team. Civilian casualties is a major cause of strand relations between Afghan officials, especially the president and western leaders. End.
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