U.S. is blamed for killing civilians instead of Taliban guerrillas

A bombing last week by U.S. warplanes of a suspected Taliban compound in mountains in eastern Afghanistan killed 17 villagers, including women and children, a provincial governor said Monday.

The bombing last Friday was in Kunar province, where an elite U.S. military team disappeared last week. U.S. officials at the time said the target was an "enemy compound" that "we deemed we had to hit immediately."

"Seventeen civilians were killed during the bombing, including women and children," Kunar Gov. Asadullah Wafa told The Associated Press after leaving a mosque in the capital, Kabul. He did not say whether any militants were also believed to be in the compound.

On Tuesday, U.S. helicopter was shot down in Kunar province, considered to be a stronghold for Taliban guerrillas. 16 troops aboard were killed. According to U.S. military, a reconnaissance team has been missing in rugged mountains of Kunar province bordering Pakistan, and the helicopter has been sent to find the team. On Monday one member of the elite U.S. military team missing in the mountains was found and American forces pushed on Monday with their urgent search for other team members.