Afghanistan: US aircraft precision-bombs Canadians

Four Canadian troops were killed and eight were injured when a US military aircraft dropped a 500-lb laser-guided bomb on them in a recognised training area on Thursday morning.

The incident took place near Bagram as an F-16, on a routine high-flying mission, opted to attack the troops. At this height, they could not have been seen with the naked eye and there is a great danger that there will be other such incidents in future, especially after the forecast regrouping of Al-Qaeda and Taleban units after the Spring thaw, boosted by fresh recruits from Chechnya and across the Arab world.

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien has expressed his amazement that such an event could happen, while President Bush has presented his condolences.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.Ru