In Afghanistan, the US-led occupation force says it’s implementing a new directive seeking to minimize civilian casualties. NATO commanders have been ordered to try to lessen reliance on air strikes that have led to thousands of deaths. NATO called the move a response to Afghan public outcry. Earlier this month, the Pentagon was forced to back off a nearly two-month-old denial of a mass killing of civilians in an Afghan village. Local residents and UN officials say ninety civilians were killed. The US now admits a death toll of at least thirty after initially claiming only five people died.