NATO rockets kill Afghan civilians

The top NATO commander in Afghanistan apologized to Afghan President Hamid Karzai Sunday after two NATO rockets missed insurgents and killed 12 Afghan civilians.

"We deeply regret this tragic loss of life," Gen. Stanley McChrystal said in a news release.

The rockets missed the target a compound where insurgents were firing at NATO and Afghan soldiers, wounding two by 300 metres, the release said.

The civilians were killed in the Nad Ali district,one of the areasnearMarjah in Helmand province where 15,000NATO and Afghantroopsbegan a major operation Friday to dislodge the Taliban.

Karzai had previously askedmilitary leaders toavoid civilian casualties. On Sunday, he issued a statement saying 10 members of the same familywere killed by a rocket.

The death of Afghan civilians during NATO operations has undermined the coalition's efforts to win over the population.

The Marjah attack, dubbed Operation Moshtarak ("together" in Dari, thelanguage spoken in Afghanistan), could takeup to 30 daysto succeed, U.S. marine Brig.-Gen. Larry Nicholson said Sunday.

But he was "more than cautiously optimistic" it will be sooner. Marines and Afghan soldiers had occupied most of Marjah by Sunday, but sniper fire continued, forcingNicholson to take cover at one point.

"The fire we just took reflects how I think this will go small pockets of sporadic fighting by small groups of very mobile individuals," he said.

An Afghan official saidat least 27 insurgents have been killed. A British and an American soldier have been killed.

Marines are a key part of the forces involved. Canada participated by contributing seven helicopters to airlift 1,100 British and Afghan soldiers to Nad Ali on Friday. A small group of34 Canadian soldiers are also involved as mentors toAfghan troops.