7 Feb 2010

Villagers collecting firewood killed by police

7:49 am on 7 February 2010

Seven villagers in Afghanistan have been killed by members of a security patrol near the Pakistan border after being mistaken for insurgents.

The victims are said to have been mistaken for insurgents, but were actually gathering firewood after dark. Six border guards are being questioned.

There is widespread anger over civilian deaths in Afghanistan, the BBC says. More than 2,400 were killed in fighting last year.