‘White Phosphorus Hailed From U.S. Planes’; ‘U.S. Strike Killed 95 Children in Afghanistan’

13 May 09 | PTV

Survivors of the recent U.S. airstrike in western Afghanistan say the U.S. military used deadly white phosphorus munitions against Afghan civilians.

Medics told Press TV that some of those wounded in the attack in the Farah province have unusual burns which could have been caused by the flesh-eating chemical — white phosphorus.

Claiming that the U.S. Air Force used ‘strange weapons’, eyewitnesses said they saw houses turn into fire balls after being hit by missiles fired from US warplanes.

Nearly 150 civilians were killed last Tuesday when US warplanes dropped bombs on two villages in the Bala Baluk district in the western province of Farah.

Denying the use of such munitions in the attack, the US military has pointed the finger at Taliban militants, accusing them of using white phosphorus — a charge the insurgents have denied.

“We neither have nor use phosphorous. The Americans have used it in many operations and now want to attribute their tyranny to the Taliban,” said a Taliban spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yousuf.

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission says it is investigating the report.

U.S.-led forces, meanwhile, have admitted using the white phosphorus, claiming that they have legally used the chemical to create smokescreens, illuminate the battlefield or destroy empty buildings, but deny knowingly using it on densely populated areas.

The substance erupts into flame on contact with air and is deadly when used against humans.

White phosphorus, classified as a ‘chemical weapon’ by U.S. intelligence, is an incendiary material that causes horrific burns, severe injuries or death when it comes in contact with human skin. Under the Geneva Treaty of 1980, the use of white phosphorous as a weapon is prohibited.

‘U.S. strike killed 95 children in Afghanistan’

Afghan officials reveal that 95 children are among the civilians killed in a U.S.-led strike that is surrounded with the controversy over use of white phosphorous.

Afghan lawmaker Obaidullah Helali who headed a delegation investigating the booming in the western province of Farah confirmed the children’s massacre on such a large scale.

The delegation also delivered condolence payments to the victims, ordered by President Hamid Karzai.

Nearly 150 civilians were killed last Tuesday when US warplanes dropped bombs on two villages in the Bala Baluk district in the western province of Farah.

Human rights and medical officials also accused the US forces of using flesh-eating chemical white phosphorus during the lethal strikes.

The attack also sparked days of protests in Kabul and other major cities across Afghanistan.

President Karzai has demanded a halt to Washington’s airstrikes in his country following the deadly incident.

Washington says it will not stop airstrikes in Afghanistan which have frequently led to civilian casualties across the violence-wracked country.

Despite the rising anti-American sentiment across the conflict-torn country, US President Barack Obama has assigned 21,000 more soldiers to the Afghanistan-based contingents.

The killing of civilians by US-led forces continues seven and half years after the US invaded the country to allegedly destroy Taliban and al-Qaeda and bring stability to the volatile region.

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• Karzai Demands End to U.S. Air Strikes (8 May 09)
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