Coalition Air Strikes Kill 76 Afghan Civilians Friday -Government

KABUL (AFP)--An operation by international forces in western Afghanistan on Friday killed 76 civilians, mostly women and children, the Afghan interior ministry said.

"Seventy-six people, all civilians and most of them women and children, were martyred during the operation by coalition forces in Shindand district of Herat province," said a statement from the interior ministry.

The ministry said it had opened an investigation into the incident.

The U.S.-led coalition confirmed it had carried out an operation in the area but said only 30 Taliban were killed.