News from Afghanistan (NATO) (date: Tuesday, June 12, 2007.)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200706/s1948230.htm

NATO soldiers kill 3 Afghans at checkpoint

NATO soldiers in Afghanistan have opened fire on a vehicle that failed to stop at a traffic control point, leaving three Afghans dead and wounding two others, an official statement says.

Soldiers from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) had directed the vehicle to halt using hand gestures, flashing lights and by firing warning shots into the ground, ISAF says.

"When the vehicle still failed to stop and continued toward the ISAF personnel, the soldiers engaged it with fire," the statement said of the incident at a checkpoint in the eastern province of Kunar.

"After receiving fire, the vehicle injured a 10-year-old boy."

Residents in the area told AFP separately that the casualties were school students aged 14 to 16 travelling in a passenger car.

The incident was being investigated with Afghan police and local leaders, ISAF says.

Foreign troops are in Afghanistan to hunt down Taliban and other militants, but in several incidents this year they have killed civilians in vehicles that failed to slow down at checkpoints.