Bombing raids kill civilians in Afghanistan

Bombing runs called in by United States forces killed dozens of civilians taking shelter from fighting between Taleban militants and Afghan and international troops, Afghan officials said.

The US promised a joint investigation. A provincial councilman said he saw about 30 bodies, many of them women and children, after villagers bought them to a provincial capital.

Villagers estimated from 70 to well over 100 civilians may have died, but no Government official could confirm such a toll.

Villagers told Afghan officials they put children, women, and elderly men in several housing compounds in the village of Gerani, in Bala Baluk district, to keep them safe but fighter aircraft targeted those compounds, killing most of those inside.