AFP
07/16/2006
By
[Printer Friendly Version]

KANDAHAR -  Afghanistan's main rights watchdog said more than 100 civilians had been killed or wounded during anti-Taliban operations in southern Afghanistan in the past three months.

Many families had also been been forced to flee with attacks and air strikes destroying homes, gardens and land, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) said, expressing concern for the safety of civilians.

"The security is worsening in southern Afghanistan," the statement said on Sunday.

"Since the past three months more than 100 defenceless and innocent civilians have either died or been wounded in fighting between the Taliban and Afghan and coalition troops," it said.

The figure covered the southern provinces of Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul and Uruzgan which have seen an upsurge in Taliban attacks and also strikes linked to a major coalition and Afghan military operation launched mid-May.

Hundreds of families "have been forced to flee their villages as a result of attacks and air strikes by US-led coalition troops," the statement said.

Thirty-seven civilians were killed in a US strike against Taliban fighters in Panjwayi district of southern Kandahar in May, AIHRC Kandahar representative Abdul Quadar Noorzai said.

The Afghan defence ministry is meanwhile investigating reports that scores of civilians were killed in a coalition bombardment in Uruzgan last week.

The coalition says it makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties, which it says are sometimes merely Taliban propaganda.

Life in Talibanistan - Part One: Throw these infidels in jail Asia Times (09/03/2010)

The disconnect between pipelines and transparency Globe and Mail, Canada (09/03/2010)

Of women, cosmetics & electioneering Pajhwok (09/03/2010)

Karzai orders huge shakeup in Ministry of Interior Pajhwok (09/03/2010)

Afghan banker warns of 'revolution' United Press International (09/03/2010)

Karzai tells Afghans not to panic in rush for withdrawals The Washington Post (09/03/2010)

What Led Kabul To Sack Ambassador To U.S.? RFE/RL (09/02/2010)

Karzai's brother calls for U.S. to shore up Kabul Bank as withdrawals accelerate The Washington Post (09/02/2010)

Interviews With Said Jawad, Afghan Ambassador To U.S CNN, The Situation Room (09/02/2010)

Afghans Pull Money From Weakened Bank The New York Times (09/02/2010)

Afghan finance minister: "Every penny of the deposits would be guaranteed by the government" The Associated Press (09/02/2010)

Lessons in Crony Capitalism The Huffington Post (09/02/2010)

Too Corrupt to Fail? The New Yorker (09/02/2010)

A.Q. Khan Newsweek (09/02/2010)

'It's premature to begin pulling troops' from Afghanistan, says Greg Mortenson Pioneer Press (09/02/2010)

Lonq queues at Afghan bank amid corruption claims AFP (09/02/2010)

14 Candidates Removed from Parliamentary Elections List Tolo News (09/02/2010)

Few signs of run on Afghanistan's Kabul Bank The Associated Press (09/02/2010)

Nervous Afghans pull money from Kabul Bank, raising fears The Washington Post (09/02/2010)

Afghan ambassador to US to leave post, slams smears AFP (09/01/2010)

Afghanistan takes over biggest private bank to avert collapse AFP (09/01/2010)

Karzai in panic as graft probe closes in Global Post (09/01/2010)

Where Did The Money Go? Yahoo News (09/01/2010)

Afghanistan's biggest bank in near disastrous collapse World News (09/01/2010)

After Obama's Iraq Speech, Afghans Worry About U.S. Commitment TIME (09/01/2010)

Afghan Police's Lack of Guns and Gas Shows U.S. Exit Plan Flaw Bloomberg (09/01/2010)

"Afghan concern about Pak is legitimate" - Gen. Petraeus The Associated Press (09/01/2010)

Birthplace of the Taliban: the next battleground The Associated Press (09/01/2010)

Afghan Ambassador Said T. Jawad leaving his post in Washington The Washington Post (09/01/2010)

Afghanistan bomb attacks kill twenty-one US soldiers in 48 hours The Telegraph (09/01/2010)