Afghan civilian mistakenly killed by NATO troops

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) shot dead a civilian Afghan, who was suspected of being a suicide bomber, in the southern Kandahar province, an ISAF statement said Sunday.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. (1100 GMT) Saturday, ISAF soldiers patrolling along Highway One in Senjaray, about 12 kilometers west of Kandahar City, shot and killed a suspected suicide bomber as he approached their position, the statement said.

The troops, it added, fired two warning shots but the suspect ignored, and the third and final aimed burst was fired and struck the individual, resulting in his death.

A subsequent search of the man revealed that he had twine, straps and other materials protruding from his jacket, which resembled wires, but there were no explosives, the statement said.

NATO troops have killed Afghan civilians, who were suspected of being suicide bombers, from time to time.

Source: Xinhua