US-led air raid kills 7 Afghan children

At least seven children were killed in a US-led coalition air strike on a religious school in Afghanistan, the coalition said yesterday, amid rising anger over civilian deaths from foreign military operations.

A US military spokesman said some children who survived Sunday's raid said pupils had been forced by insurgents to stay inside the madrasa.

"We are truly sorry for the innocent lives lost in this attack," said Army Major Chris Belcher, a coalition spokesman, in a statement.