U.S. investigating civilian deaths in Afghanistan

updated 7:42 p.m. ET Aug. 25, 2008

CRAWFORD, Texas - The United States said Monday it shares Afghan President Hamid Karzai's concerns about civilian casualties caused during fighting in that country and that an investigation is under way.

Karzai has fired two Afghan army officers following a joint Afghan-U.S.-led operation that he says killed at least 89 civilians.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto told reporters Monday in Crawford, Texas, that NATO forces in Afghanistan "take every precaution to try to avoid innocent civilian casualties."

Asked about Karzai's concerns about civilian deaths and injuries, Fratto said an investigation was under way. He said the Defense Department believed "it was a good strike." He had no details on the number of dead civilians.

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