U.S. Officials Describe Afghan Airstrike

By ERIC SCHMITT
NYT

WASHINGTON — American military officials sought on Wednesday to refute claims that as many as 90 civilians — among them 60 children — were killed in airstrikes on a village in western Afghanistan last Friday.

In the face of an investigation by Afghan officials and a report by a United Nations team that support the high number of deaths, United States officials maintain that 25 militants and 5 civilians were killed in airstrikes called in after Afghan and American commandos came under heavy fire during a raid on the compound of a top Taliban commander.

American officials have refused to comment publicly on the conflicting death tolls pending the outcome of an investigation ordered over the weekend by Maj. Gen. Jeffrey J. Schloesser, a top American commander. The results are expected to be announced later this week, American officials said.

But four military and Pentagon officials agreed to give details of the incident on the condition of anonymity because of the inquiry under way.

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