Misunderstanding Means Seven Dead Afghan Policemen

Renditions of what happened vary depending upon which side you ask, but the fact remains that seven Afghan policemen have died as a result of U.S. friendly fire. Afghan police maintain that U.S. soldiers attacked a check-post in Nangarhar, an eastern province around midnight. U.S. forces say that they were attacked and returned fire.Whatever the story, seven Afghan police are dead and another five wounded. In a statement released by the Interior Ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary called the unfortunate event a "misunderstanding." A brigade commander for the province called the event "brutal." Nasir Ahmad Safi charged U.S. forces with attacking the Khogyani district post, then requesting air support. "They attacked us from the ground and the air. They killed seven police brutally."According to American forces, however, the troops came under attack while advancing upon a "suspected Taliban safe house." But en route to their destination "the forces were suddenly ambushed from both sides." Spokesman Major Chris Belcher said rocket-propelled grenades and small arms were used against them, and the troops returned fire.Information from The Daily Telegraph used in this article.