The United States has admitted killing 11 civilians in an accidental bombing in Afghanistan.
A spokesman at the Bagram air base near Kabul said a bomb dropped by an aircraft struck a house near the Pakistan border.
Forces of the deposed Taliban regime had been the intended target.
A US statement said, 'The tragic incident occurred when enemy forces attacked an Afghan militia force checkpoint near the Shkin fire base in Paktika province just before midnight last night.
The statement said a quick reaction force from Shkin responded and 'pursued the attackers toward the border.' Close air support was requested and two US AV-8 Harrier aircraft responded.
'Two groups of five to 10 enemy personnel were spotted and the Harriers engaged one group with cannon fire.
'Another group of enemy forces was identified and close air support attempted to engage them with a 1,000-pound laser guided bomb.
'That bomb missed the intended target and landed on the house,' the statement said adding that the 'circumstances of the bombing are being investigated.'
