US soldier killed in bomb, NATO probes deaths of Afghan civilians

Oct 25, 2009, 10:19 GMT

Kabul - A US soldier was killed in a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan, while the NATO-led military launched an investigation into the deaths of four civilians killed by alliance's troops in the same volatile region, officials said Sunday.

The US soldier was killed in the roadside bombing on Saturday, a day after two more US soldiers died in the similar attack in the same region.

This year has been the deadliest for US troops and other NATO troops in Afghanistan since the ouster of Taliban regime in late 2001. More than 100,000 international troops, with over 60,000 of them US forces, are currently stationed in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said it was investigating the death of four Afghan civilians, including two children and a woman who died after the NATO troops opened fire on their vehicle in southern city of Kandahar.

'According to the initial report, ISAF troops tried repeatedly to signal the fast-approaching vehicle with passive measures, but fearing for their safety fired on the vehicle,' the alliance said in a statement.

Two more civilians were wounded in the incident, it said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has acknowledged in the past that his relations have been strained because of his harsh criticism of foreign forces, ordered an investigation into Saturday's incident.

The civilian deaths at the hands of international forces have become a delicate issue in the country. Karzai and other Afghan officials have warned the NATO of failure if the killings of civilians continue.