Taliban accused over Afghan deaths

An investigation is under way into the deaths of an Afghan woman and two children in the Sangin area of Helmand province on Saturday.

UK forces fired rockets at Taliban fighters, unaware that civilians were in the vicinity in a local compound. A further four civilians were injured.

Lieutenant Colonel David Reynolds, of Task Force Helmand, said on Monday: "This was a tragic incident. A family member can never be replaced and it is always painful when civilians, particularly women and children, are involved.

"While it is unclear exactly what caused their death an investigation is under way. What is clear is that Taliban fighters were in the area and showed a total disregard for the presence of civilians near them."

Daoud Ahmadi, the spokesman for Helmand's regional Governor Gulab Mangal, expressed his sympathy for the loss and added that the Taliban's ruthless tactics were often responsible for incidents involving civilians.

He said: "The Taliban use tactics in which they cause civilian life to be at risk. They (the Taliban) have no regard for the Afghan people and support for the Taliban in Helmand is reducing."

The incident took place when paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment attempted to prevent an imminent attack on them. Taliban were identified on the ground and three rockets were fired.

The injured civilians were evacuated to Sangin District Centre by car with the support of British paratroopers who provided medical treatment before they were flown to Bastion hospital with their two relatives.

One of the injured children received specialist treatment at the Bastion hospital and was then flown to the French-run Mother and Children's hospital in Kabul and is now recovering. The remaining three injured family members were recovering at Bastion.