Taliban uses human shields in Marjah fight

Big News Network.com Friday 19th February, 2010

Taliban rebels in Afghanistan have been accused of using human shields in their battle against NATO forces in the the Marjah area of southern Afghanistan. The British commander of NATO forces in southern Afghanistan, Major General Nick Carter, has told reporters Taliban soldiers had been seen entering houses to force civilians into hostage situations. He said troops had observed militants putting women and children onto the roofs of homes to fire from behind them. Major General Nick Carter gave the case of rebels taking over a house full of non-combatants and forcing a crying child to stand in front of the building while live fire was being exchanged. He said booby traps and firing from insurgents using hostages as shields had led to the deaths of four soldiers engaged in Operation Mushtarak, where NATO troops are attempting to secure Taliban strongholds.