'90 civilians were dead in US-led strikes'

KABUL (AFP) - A United Nations team has found “convincing evidence” that 90 civilians, including 60 children, were killed in US-led airstrikes last week, the body’s representative in Afghanistan said Tuesday.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) human rights team was sent to the western province of Herat after local claims that scores of civilians were killed in Friday’s strikes.

“Investigations by UNAMA found convincing evidence, based on the testimony of eyewitnesses and others, that some 90 civilians were killed, including 60 children, 15 women and 15 men,” special representative Kai Eide said.

“Fifteen other villagers were wounded or otherwise injured,” he said in a statement. The matter was of “grave concern” to the United Nations, Eide added.

The UN special representative said his team met with the district governor and local elders on Monday, and interviewed people from the affected areas.