KABUL – The No. 2 commanding general in Afghanistan said Wednesday that a NATO-led attack the day before in eastern Afghanistan "possibly" resulted in civilian deaths.
Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez told reporters Wednesday that the operation, which involved coalition and Afghan troops, was a "confusing operation."
"We're continuing to investigate," he said.
The Afghan government said NATO forces killed six civilians during the pre-dawn operation Tuesday.
NATO disputed the allegation, saying seven insurgents were killed and four detained after the attack in Laghman province on a compound of a militant leader responsible for directing several suicide strikes in the region.
Afghan and international forces came under fire as they assaulted the compound, sparking a gunbattle, the NATO statement said.
However, a statement issued by the Afghan presidential palace said six civilians were killed during the firefight, including one woman. Provincial officials said 12 people were killed in the clash outside the provincial capital of Mehtar Lam, some of them civilians, but they did not specify a number.
Later Tuesday, about 400 people marched on Mehtar Lam to protest the raid, and an official said one demonstrator died in clashes with police.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is touring the country, promised Afghans on Tuesday that the U.S. will do all it can to keep civilians out of the line of fire.
"Our top priority remains the safety of civilians," he said at a joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.