More dead civilians, more protests

Karzai's spokesman says 16 civilians were killed in an American-led raid in Laghman.

Afghans Protest Against U.S. On Civilian Deaths Report

MEHTAR LAM, Laghman province Afghanistan, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Thousands of Afghans protested against President Hamid Karzai and the United States over reports of fresh civilian deaths caused by U.S.-led troops during a raid against Taliban militants...

The operation causing the latest controversy happened this week in eastern Laghman Province. The U.S. military said on January 24 that troops, backed by air support, had killed 15 militants in an overnight operation.

Assadullah Wafa, a Karzai adviser investigating the deaths, said on January 25 that "16 civilians, many of them children and women, were killed" in the operation...

Chanting slogans against Karzai and the United States, thousands of people took part in the protest, despite heavy rain.

"If the foreign troops do not put an end to their operations, we will launch jihad," said Malik Hazrat, a protest leader... (link)

January's toll:

January 5: British forces in Helmand province kill between five and 19 civilians.
January 6: A US-led assault kills between 17 and 23 civilians in Laghman province.
January 7: NATO shells kill eleven civilians in Uruzgan.
January 20: Coalition forces kill 25 civilians in Kapisa province, say locals.
January 24: US troops with air support kill 16 civilians, says Karzai.

Related:

• May 11, 2008: VIDEO: Afghan police open fire on anti-US demo, killing three. Later, US officials release without charge all the suspects arrested in the raid which sparked the deadly protests.
  

• May 22, 2008: Afghan police kill anti-US demonstrators - again.

• June 12 2008: "Four demonstrators were wounded in a protest walk against US forces in the southeastern province of Paktika" in Muta Khan district.

• June 14 2008: Pajhwok Afghan News: "police fired to disrupt a peaceful demonstration against NATO operations in the southeastern province of Paktia," in Zermat district.
  

• Aug 2008: Veteran journalist Anand Gopal: "Sohaila Wedah Khamoush, a reporter for the independent daily Payman, says she has been repeatedly abused by police and government officials. 'I saw police beating protesters in an anti-US demonstration, she says."

• Aug 2008: Reuters: "Hundreds of people demonstrated in Shindand district on Saturday, saying Americans should withdraw from the area."