MOSCOW, November 7. /TASS/. Moscow demands the United States conduct unbiased investigation of bombardments of Afghanistan’s Kunduz and punish those responsible for the death of civilians, the Russian foreign ministry said on Monday.
More than 30 civilians, mostly women and children, including a three-month baby, were killed in an air strike delivered by U.S. warplanes in the course of a combat operation in Afghanistan’s northern province of Kunduz on November 3. "About 20 civilians were wounded, about 20 houses were destroyed," the Russian foreign ministry said.
"We resolutely condemn the death of civilians in U.S.’ bombing of Kunduz," the ministry said. "We demand an urgent and objective investigation and punishment of those responsible for the tragedy in order to prevent recurrence of such egregious cases."
"It should be noted that it was not the first case when civilians die in Afghanistan in indiscriminate use of weapons by the American military," the ministry said. "The U.S. side’s reaction was quite predictable and was reduced to a statement on readiness to conduct an investigation. As practice shows, the results of such investigations are never made public and those responsible, as a rule, face no due punishment."
"We extend our profound condolences to the families of those killed and wish soonest recovery to those wounded," the ministry added.