Thirty civilians have been killed in
northern Afghanistan during an Afghan special forces mission supported
by Nato, an Afghan spokesman says.
Provincial officials say many of the deaths were caused by Nato air strikes. The air support was called in after troops were surrounded by Taliban militants, who took shelter in civilian homes, the spokesman said.
Nato says it will investigate reports of civilian deaths. Two US soldiers were also killed in the fighting.
"US forces conducted strikes in Kunduz to defend friendly forces. All civilian casualty claims will be investigated," the Nato-led Resolute Support mission said.
Mahmood Danish, a spokesman for the governor of Kunduz province, told the BBC the operation took place in an area called Body Kandahari, about 5km (3 miles) from Kunduz city centre.
There were angry protests from civilians, who brought bodies of some of the dead to the governor's office in Kunduz city.
Images showed the body of an infant girl being carried by a group of civilians.
Taza Gul, a 55-year-old labourer, said: "I am heartbroken. I have lost seven members of my family. I want to know, why these innocent children were killed? Were they Taliban? No, they were innocent children."

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