Karzai urges coalition restraint

Civilians have been caught up in battles between the US and Taleban

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has urged US-led coalition forces to exercise restraint after two possible incidents of "friendly fire".

Mr Karzai also ordered a probe into the killing of seven civilians during a battle with insurgents on Saturday in the eastern province of Kunar.

US-led forces are also investigating the incident, and the deaths of six Afghan policemen on Friday.

A US statement regretted the "loss of innocent life".

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Afghanistan

"President Karzai was angered by the deaths of these seven people and demands the [coalition] military use more restraint in future attacks against terrorists not to harm civilians," said the president's office said in a statement.

US, British and Afghan forces last week launched Operation Mountain Lion involving 2,500 troops to flush out Taleban-led militants assumed to be behind a recent upsurge in attacks on both coalition forces and civilians.

The Afghan defence ministry says it is the biggest joint operation since the Taleban were driven from power in 2001.