Coalition strikes kill 9 Afghan cops

HERAT (AFP) - Nine policemen were killed in Afghanistan Sunday in international military airstrikes called in when police and troops clashed after mistaking each other for Taliban, authorities said.

The fighting erupted at about 1:30 am when Afghan and international soldiers moved into a district without informing police, who thought they were militants, the Deputy Governor of southwestern Farah province said.

“An engagement took place, each side thinking the other was the Taliban,” Muhammad Younus Rasouli told AFP.

The troops called for air support and military attack aircraft arrived and bombed a police post, he said. “Nine police were killed and five wounded,” he said.