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CNN Live Saturday

U.S., Afghan Authorities Investigate U.S. Attack on Civilians

Aired July 06, 2002 - 17:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. and Afghan authorities are jointly planning a formal investigation into a U.S. attack that killed and injured dozens of civilians in central Afghanistan this week. U.S. investigators are looking into whether wedding celebrants firing into the air may have provoked an AC-130 gunship to open fire. CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson reports from Orgazan (ph) province.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shell holes, shrapnel splattered walls and blood soaked mud hint at the ferocity of fire power that tore into what villagers described as wedding celebrations in this compound. U.S. and Afghan investigators recording evidence shown to them by villagers found no shortage of eyewitnesses to what people in this remote area consider an attack on civilians.

"Five hours after firing in celebration for the wedding, planes and tanks came, and they threw bombs," this villager explains. "And then we took the injured women and children away."

Nearby, the wedding groom, Abdul Malik (ph) comes forward; his account of returning from another village translated.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He said I was in another village. When I came here, all my family was dead.

ROBERTSON: Clarifying the number of dead, however, is proving hard for investigators.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many people were buried? That means they're dead.

ROBERTSON: No firm answer found. And despite some wounded presenting themselves for inspection by investigators, the number of confirmed casualties lower than official Afghan estimates of 40 dead and 120 injured.

In another village not far away, another shell hole. Another witness. This man claims four dead in his compound. Outside a health clinic, a woman weeps as she shows her injuries. Around her, more civilian casualties, a scene of suffering at odds with coalition forces' intention to avoid civilian casualties. GEN. DAN MCNEIL, COALITION FORCE COMMANDER: We will initiate a more formal investigation to determine what caused these civilian casualties and what we can do or implement to make sure they do not recur.

ROBERTSON: After a briefing by investigators, Afghan and coalition leaders announced further investigations would be held. And both appeared positive, despite no agreement on the number of dead and injured.

DR. ABDULLAH, AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTER: The level of understanding which the people have shown, it's -- it is already remarkable.

ROBERTSON (on camera): What happens next depends to a large degree on coalition forces avoiding civilian casualties. However, one of the long-term implications could be that Afghan defense officials could be involved in coalition force operations planning, something that could represent a turning point in the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Bagram, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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