'Civilians dead' in Nato air raids

As many as two hundred people have been reported killed or wounded in Nato-led air strikes in southern Afghanistan.

A spokesman for US-led forces said late on Thursday that the raids in Helmand province had targeted a meeting of Taliban commanders but local officials said about 50 civilians were among the casualties.

Taliban sources told Al Jazeera that a number of their fighters had been killed but claimed that the number of civilian casualties was much higher.

Mohammad Hussein Andiwal, Helmand police chief, confirmed to Reuters news agency that there were "heavy bombardments" in the area.

"We have heard of heavy casualties too and have sent a team to investigate this," he said.

At least 20 wounded civilians had been brought to a main hospital in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of Helmand province, he said.

Casualty claims

In the hospital, Shokhi Khan, a relative of one of the wounded, said several hundred civilians were killed or wounded in the strikes.

He said people had gathered for picnics and to go to a shrine in Baghran district north of Lashkar Gah on Thursday when the raids started.

Read More