Deadly bomb attack on Afghan bus

Nato’s exit strategy for Afghanistan involves handing over to local forces

A Nato air strike in southern Afghanistan has mistakenly killed four Afghan soldiers, officials say.

An Afghan defence ministry spokesman confirmed to the BBC that the soldiers, who were on patrol, were killed in the Musa Qala district of Helmand province after being mistaken for militants.

Nato has been informed and is investigating, he said.

The incident comes hours before US President Barack Obama delivers a review of his Afghan strategy.

A spokesman for Nato, Capt Ciro Parisi, said a team had been sent to investigate the incident but he could not confirm the deaths.

Helmand is one of the most violent regions of Afghanistan, with Nato troops battling Taliban rebels.

There have been other incidents of so-called “friendly fire” this year.

Three policemen died in August in northern Jowzjan province in a Nato air strike. Another Nato air strike killed six Afghan soldiers in Ghazni province in July.

Later on Thursday, President Obama is expected to announce the findings of a report by his national security staff on progress in Afghanistan.

White House aides have suggested the report will contain few surprises and will support the president’s intention to begin turning over security duties to Afghan forces in July 2011.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said again on Wedensday that Nato should transfer full responsibility for all the country’s affairs, including security, to Afghans by the end of 2014.

Ahead of the US report, two further assessments painted a bleak picture of the US-led war in Afghanistan.

The Red Cross found armed groups were making life more difficult for Afghans.

And US intelligence assessments reported by the New York Times suggested there was a limited chance of success unless Pakistan hunted down insurgents.

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