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Sunday, May 10, 2009

Inquiry says 'a number of civilians' killed in clashes with Taliban

A joint team of US and Afghan investigators confirmed that "a number of civilians" were killed in clashes with the Taliban in Farah province this week. Afghan President Hamid Karzai (pictured) said 130 people died as a result of US air strikes.A US and Afghan investigation confirmed Saturday that "a number of civilians" were killed in clashes with Taliban this week although President Hamid Karzai charged that 130 died in US air strikes. In its first statement after the battle in the southern province of Farah Monday and Tuesday, the joint investigation team said it was unable to give firmer figures because all the dead had been buried, some in mass graves.The statement also did not make clear if the dead were killed in air strikes or ground fighting centred on two villages in the district of Bala Buluk."The joint investigation team confirms that a number of civilians were killed in the course of the fighting..." it said.However, it "is unable to determine with certainty which of those casualties were Taliban fighters and which were non-combatants because those killed are all buried", it said.The US military and Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) team was still investigating the complex series of attacks, it said.The incident started when Taliban fighters, including non-Afghans, had gone to the villages of Ganj Abad and Grani and demanded money from locals.Militants also attacked police checkpoints, inflicting some casualties. The provincial government called for help from Afghan and coalition forces, it said.As heavy fighting continued for several hours, coalition troops called for close air support against their attackers.

Zuma sworn in as S Africa president

Jacob Zuma has been sworn in as South Africa's fourth president since the end of apartheid.Zuma, who took the oath of office at a ceremony in Pretoria on Saturday, vowed to uphold the tradition of reconciliation begun by Nelson Mandela, one of his predecessors and the man who led the struggle against white apartheid rule."He made reconciliation the central theme of his term of office," Zuma said in his inauguration speech."We will not deviate from that nation-building task.  Thank you Madiba [Mandela] for showing us the way."

At least 55 militants killed in Swat, army sources say

Pakistani forces killed at least 55 militants in operations targeting the Taliban in parts of the Swat valley, military sources said. Meanwhile the UN refugee agency warns that up to one million people have been displaced in northwest Pakistan.Pakistan's military said Saturday a full-scale offensive in the northwest has put militants on the back foot following a pledge from President Asif Ali Zardari to eliminate the Taliban.Warplanes pounded rebel hideouts in the Swat valley, an ex-ski resort where up to 15,000 security forces have been deployed under orders to crush extremists in an escalating conflict that has displaced hundreds of thousands.Together, helicopter gunships and ground forces killed a total of at least 55 militants in various locations in the valley, including 15 in the town of Mingora, the military said."They are on the run," the army said in an earlier statement.But the statement added that Taliban fighters were "trying to block the exodus of innocent civilians by preventing their departure through coercion, IEDs (improvised explosive devices), roadblocks with trees and even (making them) hostages".Jet fighters and helicopter gunships heavily bombarded militant positions and hideouts in Venai Baba, Namal, Qambar, Peochar, Fiza Ghat, Tiligram and Chamtalai, a senior military official said."Large number of militants were killed including hardcore elements and many militants injured. The operation is in full swing," the official said.Meanwhile a suspected US drone fired missiles at a compound used by militants in South Waziristan tribal district bordering Afghanistan, killing six militants and injuring 10 others, officials said.The military said Friday an air and ground offensive to crush the Taliban in the northwest killed more than 140 militants.It was impossible to confirm the death tolls independently, given ongoing operations across three districts which began late last month when the hardline insurgents advanced to within 100 kilometres (60 miles) of Islamabad.Meanwhile, fresh troops were entering the Malakand district which neighbours Swat valley, a local military official told AFP.People fleeing the area, however, have accused the military of also killing civilians in the fierce bombardment.Aftaba Begum, 60, told AFP in Jalala refugee camp near the town of Mardan that she had fractured her leg as shells from helicopter gunships hit Mingora three days ago.