The Taliban ambassador to Pakistan Mr Abdul Salam Zaeef said today more than 500 Afghan civilians had died in the US-led bombing campaign in Afghanistan.
Earlier the Qatar-based al-Jazeera television channel said "eight civilians were killed in a US air strike on two buses in Kandahar". It has been reported the busses were carrying refugees. The private Afghan Islamic Press agency had earlier reported that seven people had been killed and 15 others injured.
As the bombing campaign entered its 13th day the Taliban ambassador also said Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and Osama bin Laden were both alive and well after the latest US air attacks on Afghanistan.
Meanwhile the UNHCR has said between 50,000 and 60,000 Afghans have fled the country for neighbouring Pakistan since the onset of the military strikes.
Mr Ron Redmond, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said the figure, although a rough estimate, coincided with the numbers of the Pakistani authorities.
AFP