NATO AIRSTRIKE KILLS 40 CIVILIANS

"... An Afghan police officer said the 90 dead included about 40 civilians who were siphoning fuel from trucks.... Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said insurgents hijacked the trucks... the vehicles became stuck in the mud and the insurgents opened valves to release fuel and lighten the loads. He said about 500 villagers swarmed the trucks to collect the fuel despite warnings that they might be hit with an airstrike. Mujahid said no Taliban died in the attack...

"Kunduz Gov. Mohammad Omar, who also gave the 90 deaths figure, said a local Taliban commander and four Chechen fighters were among those killed...

"NATO command said a "large number of insurgents" were killed or injured... after determining that there were no civilians in the area..."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/04/AR2009090400543_2.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2009090400002