The US-led NATO force is being accused of killing ten civilians in an air strike in Afghanistan’s northern Takhar province. Appearing with the visiting Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the victims were campaign workers for a candidate in Afghanistan’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai: “[According to] the reports that we get so far, ten are killed and three wounded in this operation. The nature of the operation and the presence of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan’s personalities or activists have to be determined. But we do know that the parliamentarian, the candidate, is wounded, and ten are killed. We are investigating it. And as it turns out, we will then share the information with our allies, the United States and NATO.”