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U.S. strike kills 37 Afghans

WECH BAGHTU (Afghanistan): An Afghan villager at the scene of an apparent U.S. bombing in its fight with the Taliban says 23 children and 10 women attending a wedding party are among 37 Afghans killed.

The U.S. military says it is investigating the reports but a spokesman said “if innocent people were killed in this operation, we apologise and express our condolences.”

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has demanded that U.S. President-elect Barack Obama prevent civilian casualties.

Abdul Jalil said he was hosting a wedding party when Taliban militants took cover near his home. He said 37 people were killed when U.S. warplanes later bombed the place.

Mr. Karzai said he hoped the U.S. election would “bring peace to Afghanistan, life to Afghanistan and prosperity to the Afghan people and the rest of the world.” “This is my first demand of the new President of the United States — to put an end to civilian casualties.” — AP

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