NATO rejects UN report on death of Afghan children

Kabul, Feb 8 (AP) The US-led international coalition has said that a United Nations rights group's concerns over reports that US military strikes have killed hundreds of children during the past four years are "categorically unfounded". The statement yesterday by the International Security Assistance Force came a day after the Geneva-based UN Committee on the Rights of the Child said the casualties were largely due to the use of indiscriminate force and lack of precautionary measures. The coalition also rejects that claim, saying it takes special care to avoid civilian casualties. The coalition says the number of children who died or were wounded from air operations dropped by nearly 40 per cent in 2012 compared with the year before. (AP) KKM KKM 02082312 NNNN