Afghan President Hamid Karzai ordered an investigation on Sunday into a Nato air strike that killed eight civilians in the volatile south of the country, adding more fuel to an already contentious issue between Kabul and foreign forces.
Violence is at its worst in Afghanistan since US-backed Afghan forces toppled the Taliban government in late 2001. While there have been high levels of foreign troop deaths, Afghan civilians have borne the brunt of the conflict.
Gulab Mangal, governor of southern Helmand province, said on Sunday that a Nato air strike on Friday killed the eight civilians, including women and children. They were members of an insurgent's family, he said, and the insurgent - described as a bomb maker - was also killed in the incident.
Karzai has appointed a team to investigate the case, the presidential palace said in a statement. The Nato-led International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) has said the air strike in Helmand's Nad Ali district was called in after a coalition patrol came under attack. ISAF is also investigating the incident after meeting local leaders.
"Shortly following the engagement, coalition forces received reports that civilian family members of one of the insurgents may have been present during the air strike," ISAF said in a statement on Saturday.
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