Four civilians die in Afghan clash
A clash between Afghan forces and Taliban militants has left four civilians dead in a southern district of the country where a major Nato operation early this year was meant to reassert government control.
The clash occurred after militants fired on an Afghan forces patrol in Marjah district, sparking a gun battle in which the civilians are believed to have been caught in the crossfire, Helmand provincial government spokesman Dawood Ahmadi said.
No security forces were hurt and it is not clear if there were any militant casualties.
A major operation launched in February by Nato forces was intended to wrest Marjah, a Taliban stronghold and a centre of the lucrative opium trade, from insurgents. Despite subsequent efforts to win the support of residents with development projects and improved security, militants are believed to have melted back into the community where they still wield influence.
Elsewhere, four other civilians were killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Helmand's Nawzad district, Ahmadi said.
Civilian casualties are a hot-button issue in Afghanistan. Although most are caused by militant action, those caused by Afghan and international security forces are believed to undercut support for the weak Afghan government and boost backing for the insurgents.