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16 civilians die in U.S. troop fire

Pakistan using terror as its foreign policy, says Afghanistan Minister

KABUL: Sixteen civilians were killed in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday when a U.S. convoy was ambushed and troops returned fire, the U.S.-led coalition said, as the Government said the soldiers killed 10 persons.

The coalition did not specify how many were killed in the suicide attack in the eastern province of Nangarhar and how many in the subsequent gunfire from the soldiers. A car bomb struck the convoy ``as part of a complex ambush involving enemy small-arms fire from several directions,'' it said in a statement. ``Coalition forces returned fire in defence of the patrol. Sixteen civilians died during the initial attack, including four civilians who later died of their wounds. Twenty-four civilians were wounded during the attack.''

A coalition soldier was also wounded. A spokesman confirmed that the casualties were from the ambush and the return fire. ``It was throughout the entire attack,'' he said.

Asked how many were killed in the ambush and how many in the subsequent coalition fire, he said the incident was being investigated.

The Afghan Interior Ministry said the troops killed 10 civilians.

"Support for Taliban"

Meanwhile, Afghnistan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta has told Members of Parliament that neighbouring Pakistan uses terror as its foreign policy and that it once occupied almost 90 per cent of Afghanistan, a reference to Afghanistan's former Taliban rule. Mr. Spanta said the international community was rewarding Pakistan with aid packages even though it supported Taliban fighters. ``Pakistan shouldn't use terror as its foreign policy,'' he said on Saturday. ``I wish that the international community wouldn't give rewards to countries that are supporting the Taliban.'' Afghan officials frequently accuse Pakistani leaders of harbouring Taliban fighters. Pakistan's Government insists it is doing all it can to fight terrorism.

Mr. Spanta made the stinging remarks about Pakistan to members of the upper House's foreign relations committee. — AP

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