LASHKARGAH, June 30 (Pajhwok Afghan News): More than 130 civilians were killed in a fresh airstrike by US-led forces in the lawless southern province of Helmand, angry residents and officials said on Saturday.

The latest civilian deaths came hours after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President Hamid Karzai underlined the need for caution in the conduct of military operations to avoid collateral damage.

Haji Muhammad Nadir, a dweller of the volatile district, informed Pajhwok Afghan News that up to 135 people, mostly women and children, were massacred in what he called an 'outrageous overnight raid on ordinary citizens.'

He alleged foreign troops, surrounding the village, did not allow the people to retrieve the dead bodies from the debris of bombed-out houses. Dozens of the injured are said to be buried under the rubble, as access to the site was denied till last reports came in.

A senior district official, tasked with probing the deadly bombardment, estimated the death toll between 120 and 130. Haji Dur Ali Shah believed the dead included both civilians as well as Taliban fighters.

The airstrike came after a three-hour battle between foreign forces and Taliban guerrillas, who blew up two tanks in an ambush on a Coalition convoy in the area, said Abdur Rehman. He thought up to 60 people had perished in the 'ruthless bombardment' that left the villagers in a fit of rage.

The 40-year-old added infuriated residents were preparing to take the dead bodies to the Greshk district headquarters to prove to the authorities that all the victims were ordinary citizens with no links to fighters.

Haji Shamsul Haq, a tribal elder hailing from the restive district, also alleged the dead were common villagers. He said insurgents had left the locality immediately after the fierce gun-battle preceding the bombing, "which left 80 dead and several houses razed."

By the same token, the provincial police chief also confirmed the civilian casualties in the Coalition pounding of the village. Brig-Gen. Muhammad Hussain Andiwal protested the foreign forces did not consult them on the provocative action.

"We have called some tribal elders from the area to Lashkargah (provincial capital) to ascertain how many people have been killed and wounded in the airstrike," Andiwal said, when approached for comments.

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi too said 80 ordinary people were killed in the bombing. He claimed the fighters killed a number of foreign troops as two of their tanks were blown up during the clash.

Both NATO and Coalition officials confirmed the civilian deaths but did not put a specific figure on the toll. International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) spokeswoman Colonel Maria Carl admitted civilians were killed in the bombing but she had no further details.

Maj. Chris Belcher of the US-led Coalition said: Remains of some people, apparently civilians, were found among fighters who were killed in firing positions in a trench line. Insurgents are continuing their tactic of using women and children as human shields.

Reported by Abdul Samad Rohani

Translated & edited by S. Mudassir Ali Shah