Karzai orders inquiry into governor's killing; NATO blamed

Dec 2, 2010, 13:14 GMT

Kabul - President Hamid Karzai on Thursday ordered an investigation into the killing of a district governor in southern Afghanistan whose death was blamed on NATO-led forces.

The presidential palace said Haji Ebrahim, the governor of the Gireshk district in Helmand province, was killed after International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops targeted him Monday night at his home.

'According to initial information, the district governor was innocent,' the statement said, citing information provided to Karzai by Helmand's governor.

An ISAF spokesman said, however, that a militant was killed in the operation.

Karzai ordered provincial authorities to investigate the incident and report back to him before he takes 'necessary action.'

The ISAF forces also arrested six members of Ebrahim's family, said Daoud Ahmadi, spokesman for the provincial governor. Ebrahim became the district governor after the ouster of the Taliban regime in late 2001, he said.

Karzai has repeatedly criticized the night raids conducted by the ISAF against suspected Taliban militants. The nightly operations have caused friction between him and NATO.

The Afghan leader urged the foreign troops in his country to end the special forces night raids, saying they were intrusive into the daily lives of the Afghan people and lead to the death of innocents.

The ISAF said the raids are a key part of its counterinsurgency strategy to root out militants from their strongholds and improve security for good governance.

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