15 April 2010 - On Monday, four civilians were reportedly killed and 18 others injured in the Zhari district of Kandahar province, when international military forces fired at a bus.

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, said: “I am deeply saddened and seriously concerned by this loss of civilian life and once again call on all parties to the conflict to do their utmost to minimize harm to ordinary Afghans and to take every possible precautionary measure to distinguish between civilians and combatants in their operations.”

This incident follows other reports of civilian casualties over recent weeks: On 6 April, international forces killed four civilians in connection with an engagement with insurgents inside a compound in Nahr-e-Saraj. In February, a night raid on a family compound outside Gardez by international forces resulted in the deaths of three women and two men.

According to the UN Special Envoy, this is a “disturbing trend, and all efforts must be undertaken to ensure it is reversed.”

“I appreciate the decision by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to conduct an investigation into Monday’s unfortunate incident. I also welcome the new guidelines by General McChrystal on the use of lethal force, and am anxious to see them effectively implemented,” he added.

The Special Representative has extended his condolences to the victims and their families.