Families of those killed in a NATO airstrike that killed more than 100 people in Afghanistan two years ago plan to sue the German government for damages.
According to the German armed forces, 91 civilians were killed and 11 others wounded in an airstrike that was intended to take out Taliban insurgents in the Kunduz region of northern Afghanistan in September 2009.
Lawyer Karim Popal, who represents the families of more than 70 of the victims, told reporters in Berlin on Thursday that he planned to file the suit in the state court in Bonn next week.
Deutsche Welle Radio reports the airstrike was made at the request of German Bundeswehr Colonel Georg Klein, after two fuel tankers were captured by the Taliban.
Colonel Klein called for the strike in the fear that the tankers could be used to attack a nearby German base.
Mr Popal is seeking 28,000 euros ($US33,000) in compensation for each of the victims' families. So far, the German government has offered 5000 euros per family.
Mr Popal argues that not only is this sum far too low, but many of the families haven't yet received a cent, as the German government asked regional leaders and warlords in Afghanistan to distribute the funds.
