MOSCOW, April 14 (RIA Novosti) - Following a deadly air raid that killed 17 people, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Saturday the international forces in Afghanistan have violated his presidential decree banning airstrikes on residential areas.
According to the presidential administration’s press service, Karzai made the statement during a meeting with members of a governmental commission to investigate the April 6 airstrike in the Kunar province, in 12 children and five adults, including a US civilian advisor, were killed. The US-led coalition forces said an airstrike took place on the same day in the same area, but did not confirm casualties, saying that the information is still being verified.
The president described the airstrike as a blatant violation of human rights and his decree. He also condemned Taliban insurgents, who take cover in houses of local residents and use them as firing positions.
Karzai also ordered immediate aid to victims’ families.
