7 dead in Taliban commander raid

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Afghan and foreign troops raided a house in western Afghanistan Sunday in search of a Taliban commander, leaving at least seven civilians -- including women and children -- dead, authorities in the area told CNN.

Provincial and district police differed on the number of casualties. One agency placed the number at seven; the other said 10 were killed.

A U.S. military spokesman told CNN Monday that American troops were not involved in the raid in the Bakwa district of western Farah province .

An official with NATO's International Security Assistance Force said Monday that it is looking into whether the force conducted any operations in the province Sunday.

The office of the province's police chief said seven civilians were killed in an air strike at the house of Taliban commander Abdul Mannan. The dead comprised of four men, one woman and two children.

Somewhat contradicting the report, District police Chief Khan Agha said ground troops conducted the raid. Ten civilians were killed, Agha said.

He added that Mannan was able to escape. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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