ROME, October 5. /TASS/. One of the founders of the Doctors Without Borders humanitarian organization, former French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has accused the United States of a "war crime" after the bombing of the hospital in Kunduz (Afghanistan). The politician said as much in an interview published by the La Repubblica newspaper on Monday.
"Air strikes often lead to the so-called collateral effects," he said noting that this "does not justify the bombing raids in Kunduz [by the United States]." "It is a different matter, because the hospital was the target," Kouchner said.
He noted that the staff of humanitarian organizations were more and more often working in hazardous conditions. "There is no respect for the status of a non-governmental organization. The war is becoming increasingly cruel, and the UN is right in saying that this is a war crime," the politician said, recalling that the hospital in Kunduz was marked on all maps.
"Mistakes do occur during the war, but this one cannot be justified. Condolences of US President Barack Obama is the least, it is necessary to assume responsibility," Kouchner said refuting reports that Taliban movement gunmen were hiding in the hospital, which served as an excuse for the bombing raid.
"Some false information was spread to discredit the work of Doctors Without Borders. And I am very much concerned that Americans plan their bombing raids relying on unverified information," Kouchner said.
The October 3 air strike of the US Air Force on the hospital where terrorists were allegedly hiding has left 22 people dead, including 12 volunteers of the humanitarian organization. The Doctors Without Borders group is demanding an international inquiry into this tragic incident.