The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), led by Nato, has apologised for killing two Afghan boys, who were mistaken for insurgents.
A helicopter opened fire on the boys, who were herding cattle in Uruzgan province in central Afghanistan.
Isaf spokesman, Brigadier General Gunter Katz said: "The two boys were killed when our forces fired at what they thought were insurgent forces."
Gen Joseph Dunford, commander of ISAF said in a statement:
"I offer my personal apology and condolences to the family of the boys who were killed."
"I am committed to ensuring we do the right thing for the families of those we harmed, as well as for the community in which they lived. We take full responsibility for this tragedy."
The governor of Uruzgan, Amir Mohammad Akhundzada, was quoted by AFP as saying: "The children were killed by Australian troops, it was a mistaken incident, not a deliberate one."
