By Alastair Leithead
BBC News, Kabul
Afghanistan has criticised US forces for their "unilateral operations" in the west of the country which, the government says, killed at least 70.
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They had initially denied any civilians had been killed.
Tribal elders, provincial government and security officials said a bomb had dropped on a large group of people.
They are thought to have been taking part in a wake in Herat province.
Officials said women and children were among the dead.
The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission said initial findings were that 78 civilians had been killed but this could not be fully verified and a delegation was investigating.
President Hamid Karzai's statement said he had launched an investigation and had ordered various ministries to "prepare a comprehensive plan to prevent civilian casualties" which would be handed over to the coalition.
The US forces initially said they "remained confident" no civilians had been killed, something they said had been verified by Afghan security forces, but later added they were investigating and "every effort is made to prevent the injury or loss of innocent lives".
The issue of civilian casualties has constantly been a source of friction between Mr Karzai and international forces.
The deaths of innocent people not only affects families and tribes of those killed, but impacts on the whole counter-insurgency mission, which is to try and win people's support, not drive them against the government and the international presence in Afghanistan.
(BBC)
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