U.S. military concedes Afghan civilian casualties

KABUL: The U.S. military has conceded that troops under its command in Afghanistan killed a group of civilians in an operation this week, not militants as earlier reported. Investigations showed the late Wednesday night raid in an area of southeastern Khost had resulted in "killing two males, two females and wounding two females. There are reports of an infant also killed," the military said in a statement. "We deeply regret the tragic loss of life in this precious family," the late Thursday statement quoted Brigadier General Michael Ryan of the U.S. forces as saying. "Words alone cannot begin to express our regret and sympathy and we will ensure the surviving family members are properly cared for."