CBC News, April 3, 2010


German forces kill 6 Afghan soldiers

The German central command confirmed the incident, but put the number of Afghan troop casualties at five

Site where Afghan soldiers were killed by Germans
Site where Afghan soldiers were killed by Germans troops in a so-called friendly fire. (Photo: Reuters)

German troops have admitted they accidentally killed six Afghan soldiers during a gunfight with what they thought were Taliban insurgents, the Afghan army said Saturday.

Three Germans died in the incident Friday in northern Kunduz province.

German soldiers in an armoured personnel carrier opened fire after coming across two civilian vehicles that refused to stop.

Soon after, it was discovered the vehicles were carrying Afghan troops.

"Yesterday, after a military operation which took place in the Char Dara district of Kunduz province, Afghan national army troops were distributing food near the German troops when German troops opened fire," said Afghan defence ministry spokesman Gen. Zahir Azimi.

"In this incident six Afghan soldiers were killed. The defence ministry have already condemned the incident," he said.

The German central command confirmed the incident, but put the number of Afghan troop casualties at five.

The shooting took place in the same region where German forces were sharply criticized last September when they ordered an airstrike on two tanker trucks that had been captured by the Taliban. Up to 142 people died, many of them civilians.

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