NATO Commander Confirms Civilians Wounded In Bombing

NATO commander General Stanley McChrystal

The top NATO commander in Afghanistan has confirmed that civilians were among those wounded in an air strike targeting Taliban militants in northern Afghanistan, and has pledged to share with the Afghan people the results of a full investigation into the incident that is reported to have left scores of people dead.

U.S. General Stanley McChrystal, in a video shown on Afghan televison on September 5, said he takes the possible loss of life or injury to innocent Afghans "very seriously."

Concerning the air strike early on September 4 in Kunduz Province, McChrystal said U.S. jets had launched an attack against what military officials believed to be Taliban who had hijacked two fuel tankers.

The air strike -- requested by German forces -- killed or wounded up to 90 people, according to Afghan officials -- but reports say it remains unclear how many were Taliban and how many were villagers who had come to siphon fuel from the stolen trucks.

compiled from agency reports