KUNDUZ CITY (PAN): The families of those killed and wounded in Friday's air strike by NATO forces in Chahar Dara district of northern Kunduz province Sunday called for exemplary punishment to the perpetrators.

Bereaved families made the appeal at a meeting with a delegation sent by President Hamid Karzai to probe the air raid on two fuel tanks hijacked by militants. The bombardment killed more than 95 people.

Muhammad Shah, a resident of Amalkhel village, who spoke to the delegation, said 18 people of his family including children and girls were killed in the bombardment. He urged the team to determine the exact number of victims and provide assistance to affected families.

Ghulam Mohiuddin, an elder, said he lost his young son in the attack. "My son, a taxi driver, also went to the site to get free fuel, but was killed in the massive blast. I only buried his ashes," added the heartbroken man.

Elders demanded of the delegation to bring to justice those who conducted the air raid. They called for an end to actions that caused civilian casualties.

Director General of Crime Branch at the Ministry of Interior Colonel Yar Muhammad Yarmal, who led the delegation, assured elders serious investigations were underway into the incident. About civilian casualties, he added details would be revealed once the investigations were completed.

Yarmal said the investigation could be possibly completed on Monday and then the report would be presented to President Hamid Karzai. The delegation also visited parts of the district. The official promised monetary assistance to affected families.

But he would not say specify the compensation amount.  Even the families of Taliban fighters who were killed in the bombardment would be provided assistance, added Yarmal.

Governor Eng. Muhammad Omar said the district chief had been ordered to provide a list of victims. Abdul Waheed Omarkhel, Chardara district chief, pledged the list would be drawn up soon.

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