Afghan civilian deaths probed

Three civilians - thought to be one woman and two children - were "accidentally" killed in the Sangin district of Helmand province on Saturday, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed on Sunday night that troops from the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment were involved.

An MoD spokesman said: "We can confirm that 2 Para were involved in the incident in which three civilians tragically lost their lives. A full investigation will be carried out, and our sympathies are with the families of the killed and injured civilians at this time."

The MoD said four other civilians were wounded when troops set off three rockets.

An ISAF spokesman said: "The patrol identified insurgents with weapons on the roof of the compound preparing to attack, and in order to protect themselves, launched three rockets all of which hit the target.

"Unbeknown to the patrol, the civilians were inside the compound at the time. The casualties were treated at a nearby ISAF medical facility where two of them, children, remain seriously ill.

"ISAF deeply regrets the tragedy of this incident when women and children were killed and injured as a result of an imminent insurgent attack from a position where they would have known women and children were present. The enemies of Afghanistan have yet again shown a complete disregard for the lives of the innocent who they claim to fight for."

The situation for UK troops in Afghanistan has worsened in recent months, according to experts. The Senlis Council, a research group based in Afghanistan, claims recent killings show how the Taliban was regaining strongholds throughout the country.

Defence Secretary Des Browne acknowledged progress had come at a "high price".