Eleven minors among dozen killed in Afghan air strike: officials

An airstrike in northeastern Afghanistan has killed 11 children and a prayer leader as they studied in a mosque, local authorities said Thursday, though the national government disputed the account.

The strike in a village in Takhar province came Wednesday after suspected Taliban fighters targeted Afghan security forces in the area.

According to provincial police spokesman Khalil Aseer, an airstrike that came during the fighting hit a mosque, killing 12 people including 11 youngsters.

"The airstrike was carried out when the victims were busy studying the Holy Koran," Aseer said, adding a prayer leader was among the dead. He did not give the ages of any of those killed.

Fourteen other people, including children, were wounded in the strike, Aseer said. Takhar provincial governor spokesman Mohammad Jawad Hejri confirmed the incident.

It was not clear who conducted the airstrike. The US military referred a query to the Afghan defence ministry, which did not immediately comment.

The Afghan military has a fledgeling air force and small attack planes capable of conducting close-air support for troops on the ground.

Vice President Amrullah Saleh said no minors had been killed at the mosque.

"The news of children killed in a mosque in Takhar is baseless," he wrote on Facebook.

"We have undeniable evidence that those who killed our security forces ... were killed. Those who spread rumours will be dealt with legally."

Heavy fighting with the Taliban in Takhar since Tuesday has left at least 25 security personnel dead.

Despite joining peace talks with the Afghan government in Qatar last month, the Taliban have only increased violence in a bid to wield leverage in the negotiations.

The top US envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, said earlier this week that fighting is threatening the peace process.