Nato air strike kills 27 Afghan civilian

Amid fears the deaths will alienate the very people they are trying to win over, top commander US General Stanley McChrystal yesterday apologised to Afghan president Hamid Karzai for the air strike in the central Afghan province of Uruzgan on Sunday.

The Afghanistan Council of Ministers strongly condemned the air strike, calling it "unjustifiable." It said reports indicated that Nato planes fired at a convoy of three vehicles, among the victims were four women and a child.

Nato confirmed that its planes fired on what it believed was a group of insurgents but later discovered their mistake.

The interior ministry said the attack hit three minibuses travelling on a major road near Uruzgan's border with Day Kundi province.

"We are extremely saddened by the tragic loss of innocent lives," Gen McChrystal said. "I have made it clear to our forces that we are here to protect the Afghan people and inadvertently killing or injuring civilians undermines their trust and confidence in our mission. We will redouble our effort to regain that trust."

The attack was not related to the ongoing offensive around the Helmand province town of Marjah, where US and Afghan forces have been battling Taliban for nearly two weeks.

At least 16 civilians have been killed so far during the offensive, Nato said, although human rights groups say the number is at least 19.

Last Thursday, an air strike in northern Kunduz province missed targeted insurgents and killed seven policemen.