PAN, January 6, 2009

Uruzgan clash between insurgents and ISAF causes heavy casualties to civilians

Bari Dad a local of Qala Naw village of the district claimed that we suffered the casualties due to heavy ISAF bombardment.

Ahmad Omaid Khpalwak

TIRINKOT: Heavy casualties have been reported to locals in clashes between insurgents and ISAF soldiers in central insecure Uruzgan province.

Lieutenant colonel Mohammad Nabi deputy police chief of Uruzgan police headquarter told Pajhwok Afghan News that these skirmishes took place in Chora Rukh district of Uruzgan province last evening. He said that a rocket which was probably fired by Talib militia toward ISAF military base in the region missed the target and landed in the area that resulted many casualties.

He added that a commission headed by Guma Gul Himmat Uruzgan police chief traveled to the spot in order to thoroughly assess the damages.

However, Bari Dad a local of Qala Naw village of the district claimed that we suffered the casualties due to heavy ISAF bombardment.

Eight of my family members and kins died in the fighting while eight others were seriously wounded, he said.

Bari Dad who had barely transferred his injured kins in midnight dark to a hospital in central Uruzgan told this News Agency that due to heavy fighting people were unable to take their injured family members on time to health centers.

Many people also received casualties while fleeing the area, he added.

Dr Amir Mohammad director of central Uruzgan Hospital said that three women, a 12 year old girl were among the injured persons brought to the hospital, the rest were men, he said.

They were provided better medical treatment and are in good conditions, he said.

Neither Taliban nor ISAF forces have issued any statement yet about the fighting.

Two weeks back a road side bomb had killed two civilians and wounded ten others in Tirinkot but no one had claimed the responsibility.

Characters Count: 2043