19 killed in US airstrike on Afghan hospital

A suspected US air strike on a hospital killed 19 people Saturday in the Afghan city of Kunduz, medical charity MSF said, a bombardment that the UN condemned as "inexcusable, and possibly even criminal". The bombardment, the charity said, continued for more than 30 minutes after Washington was informed, reports AFP from Kabut. Dozens more were seriously wounded at the facility, a key medical lifeline that has been running “beyond capacity” during fighting that saw the Taliban seize control of the northern provincial capital for several days. The strike early Saturday left the building engulfed in flames, with photos posted by Doctors Without Borders showing their staff shocked and dazed.
“At 2:10 am (2040 GMT) local time... the MSF trauma centre in Kunduz was hit several times during sustained bombing and was very badly damaged,” the organisation, known by its French initials, said. “It is with deep sadness that we confirm so far the death of nine MSF staff during the bombing... 37 people were seriously wounded... There are many patients and staff who remain unaccounted for.”
It said the bombing continued for more than 30 minutes after American and Afghan military officials were first alerted they were being hit.
“All parties to the conflict, including in Kabul and Washington, were clearly informed of the precise location (GPS coordinates) of the MSF facilities,” the statement added. The Afghan defence ministry expressed sadness but in a statement said “a group of terrorists armed with light and heavy weapon... were using the hospital building as a position to target Afghan forces and civilians”.
NATO conceded US forces may have been behind the strike but has not so far commented on the specific claims of MSF, which has long treated the war-wounded from all sides of the conflict.

19 killed in US airstrike on Afghan hospital

A suspected US air strike on a hospital killed 19 people Saturday in the Afghan city of Kunduz, medical charity MSF said, a bombardment that the UN condemned as inexcusable, and possibly even criminal. The bombardment, the charity said, continued for more than 30 minutes after Washington was informed, reports AFP from Kabut. Dozens more were seriously wounded at the facility, a key medical lifeline that has been running beyond capacity during fighting that saw the Taliban seize control of the northern provincial capital for several days. The strike early Saturday left the building engulfed in flames, with photos posted by Doctors Without Borders showing their staff shocked and dazed. At 2:10 am (2040 GMT) local time... the MSF trauma centre in Kunduz was hit several times during sustained bombing and was very badly damaged, the organisation, known by its French initials, said. It is with deep sadness that we confirm so far the death of nine MSF staff during the bombing... 37 people were seriously wounded... There are many patients and staff who remain unaccounted for. It said the bombing continued for more than 30 minutes after American and Afghan military officials were first alerted they were being hit. All parties to the conflict, including in Kabul and Washington, were clearly informed of the precise location (GPS coordinates) of the MSF facilities, the statement added. The Afghan defence ministry expressed sadness but in a statement said a group of terrorists armed with light and heavy weapon... were using the hospital building as a position to target Afghan forces and civilians. NATO conceded US forces may have been behind the strike but has not so far commented on the specific claims of MSF, which has long treated the war-wounded from all sides of the conflict.