Airstrike kills 10 civilians in eastern Afghanistan

Officials say women and children were among those killed

epaselect epa07196861 An injured boy receives treatment at a hospital after an airstrike in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, 29 November 2018. At least 30 civilians were killed in an airstrike in Garmsir district in the province. Civilians and Taliban fighters were killed in the strike as Afghan government forces battled insurgents in southern Helmand province overnight.  EPA/WATAN YAR
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Afghan officials say an air strike has killed at least 10 civilians in the eastern Paktia province bordering Pakistan.

Shausta Jan Ahady, a former provincial council member, says women and children were among those killed late on Saturday. He says local residents displayed the bodies and protested on Sunday.

Provincial government spokesman Abdullah Hsrat says the air strike killed four insurgents and that an investigation has been launched into the allegations of civilian casualties.

In a separate incident in the southern Helmand province, an air strike killed the Taliban's shadow governor and two of his guards, according to provincial government spokesman Omar Zwak.

There was no immediate comment from the Taliban, who control nearly half the country and run a parallel administration.

It was not immediately clear who carried out either airstrike.