Kabul condemns US bombing error

The new government in Kabul yesterday condemned America's conduct of the military campaign in Afghanistan, accusing US bombers of killing 40 people attending a village wedding.

Abdullah Abdullah, the foreign minister, contradicted every point of Washington's official explanation for the bombing raid on Monday that mistakenly hit civilian targets in Uruzgan province.

In the strongest attack yet made on America by a member of the post-Taliban government, Mr Abdullah described it as "unacceptable that civilians who suffered so much under al-Qa'eda and the Taliban should suffer under the campaign against al-Qa'eda and the Taliban".

A complete review of operational procedures was needed, he said, emphasising that "the enemies of peace" in Afghanistan would exploit costly American errors.