Civilian deaths undermine progress against Taleban

United States, British and Afghan forces claimed they made steady inroads into the last big Taleban stronghold in central Helmand yesterday but their mission was clouded by the deaths of 12 civilians in a Nato missile strike.

The victims, 10 of them from one family, were killed when two missiles fired by US forces missed a compound being used by insurgents and hit a nearby building, where the civilians had taken shelter from the fighting.

Earlier, fierce battles erupted on the second full day of Nato's assault on Marjah, with US marines comparing the fighting with that in the battle for the Iraqi city of Fallujah in 2004.

The civilian deaths occurred in the Nad-e-Ali district. It was unclear whether militant fighters were firing at American or UK troops when the rockets were launched. The missiles overshot their target by about 300m.

In an indication of how damaging even a comparatively small number of civilian casualties would be, the US commander General Stanley McChrystal was swift to issue an apology and order an inquiry.

McChrystal's reinvigorated counter-insurgency campaign is supposed to place the emphasis on protecting communities, rather than killing militants.

"It is regrettable that in the course of our efforts, innocent lives were lost. We extend our heartfelt sympathies and will ensure we do all we can to avoid future incidents."

The Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, had stressed before the start of Operation Moshtarak (meaning "together" in Dari) that Nato forces must do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties. It is believed immediate compensation payments would be made to the bereaved families.

The use of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, responsible for the deaths, has been suspended, while a review takes place. Western military officials have accused the Taleban of seeking to carry out attacks using proximity to civilians as cover.

Marjah has, say residents, become a ghost town. Shops are shuttered, streets deserted and inhabitants are hiding inside their mud-brick houses.

Ghafar Jan, a 32-year-old farm labourer, said powerful explosions had cast a pall of dust and smoke over the area, and that the "lightning" of rockets was visible from his house.

"The Taleban are here and fighting back at the Americans," he said by phone. "We hear shouts of 'Allahu Akbar' and see their rockets falling on the coalition. But I can not see the fighters themselves."

He said he and his family of nine had taken shelter in the basement of their mud-brick house, where they usually keep livestock. It is the safest place to hide. "People are poor and don't have strong houses."

Others said that on the first night, the fighting eased off and the growl of warplanes replaced the thud of explosions.

Through the gloom, figures could be seen walking the streets and teams of Taleban fighters were said to be falling back into the town to dig themselves in. They are surrounded, with no way out.

- INDEPENDENT