BBc reporter killed by NATO in Afghanistan

The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan has admitted it mistakenly killed BBC reporter Ahmed Omed Khpulwak in July. Isaf said a US soldier mistook the Pashto service journalist for an insurgent when troops responded to a militant attack in the town of Tarin Kowt in southern Uruzgan province. Khpulwak was one of 19 people killed. Nato launched an inquiry after initial reports that Khpulwak had been killed by insurgents were questioned. Press card? Isaf's findings concluded that Khpulwak, 25, was shot dead by an American soldier who mistook him for a suicide bomber. The report said that Khpulwak had taken refuge in a bathroom in his offices as Isaf troops responded to the attack. It said he appeared to be holding up something that US troops may have thought was a trigger for a suicide bomb but concluded it may have been his press card. Isaf said Khpulwak's death was tragic and has expressed condolences to his family. But it said it was confident its soldiers had complied with the laws of armed conflict and rules of engagement and acted reasonably under the circumstances. Heavy fighting had broken out in Tarin Kowt's market following three suicide bombings. Heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles were used by both sides, witnesses said. Afghan government forces received air support from Nato. The Taliban admitted carrying out the attacks but denied killing the reporter, accusing government forces of shooting him as they fought to regain control of the area.   Khpulwak reportedly sent his brother two text messages at the time. The first read: "I am hiding. Death has come." In the second, he wrote: "Pray for me if I die." Khpulwak, who also worked for the Pajwak Afghan news agency, joined the BBC in 2008. Isaf is the 140,000-strong, Nato-led force that is tackling the Taliban insurgency. Although casualties are down slightly this year from 2010, there were 66 US combat deaths in August 2011, according to an unofficial tally by the Associated Press, making it the deadliest month for US troops in nearly 10 years of war. Foreign troops are expected to end combat operations in Afghanistan by 2014. (from BBC)