At least eight policemen were killed today during an operation by US-led coalition troops in central Afghanistan, an Afghan official said.
The officers died in the village of Ghariban in Ghazni province, and two villagers were also killed, it was reported.
Afghan police officials said that policemen appeared to have been killed by air strikes, which also destroyed several houses. Their claim could not be verified.
Faced with troop shortages, US and Nato-led troops rely heavily on the use of air power in their fight against Taliban and other militants in Afghanistan.
READ MORE
Such tactics have caused many civilians casualties and friction with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
US and Nato officials accuse militants of using civilians as human shields.