[R-G] Australian troops pulled out of fighting in Afghanistan

[Anthony Fenton]

Copyright 2007 Australian Associated Press Pty. Ltd.
AAP Newsfeed

October 28, 2007 Sunday 4:47 AM AEST

SECTION: DOMESTIC NEWS

LENGTH: 288 words

HEADLINE: FED: Australian troops pulled out of fighting in Afghanistan

DATELINE: MELBOURNE Oct 28

BODY:


   Australian troops, who feared many civilian casualties in an  
Afghan operation, refused to take part in the Dutch-led assault on  
advancing Taliban militia.
    The battle left dozens of innocent Afghans dead, Fairfax  
newspapers said.
    Australian officers were involved in planning the battle, but  
pulled out of the June operation as it would contravene Australia's  
rules of engagement.
    The operation was in the same area where SAS Regiment Sergeant  
Matthew Locke was killed last week.
    Almost 70 civilians died when Dutch forces fought a 500-strong  
Taliban assault in the Chora Valley.
    The fighting occurred  30 km from the Australian and Dutch base  
at Tarin Kowt in Oruzgan province. The civilians died in a storm of  
bombing and artillery fire, human rights investigators report.
    The Australian Defence Force issued two statements days after the  
battle, saying Australian troops were not involved in the fighting.
    Defence Minister Brendan Nelson and senior military officers  
expressed concern about civilian casualties in the battle, the  
statements revealed.
    The army's Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy has reiterated  
Australia's commitment to avoiding civilian deaths wherever possible.
    "Nothing undermines the credibility of our efforts more than the  
unintended killing of civilians," he said.
    Sergeant Locke was killed on Thursday, day one of a major allied  
offensive in the Chora Valley, the site of repeated Taliban clashes.
    Australian SAS troops, including Sergeant Locke, fought some  
battles alongside Dutch forces before they withdrew from Afghanistan  
in September last year.
    At the time, Australian officers said the SAS cleared out the  
insurgents in the valley and Mr Nelson said the region was stable.