UN says Afghan hospital bombing may be 'war crime'

UN rights chief says strike on MSF hospital that killed 19, including doctors, is "inexcusable" as US forces apologise.

The US-led air strike on a hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz that killed at least 19 people, including 12 staff of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) was "inexcusable" and possibly criminal, UN's human rights chief said, as the Pentagon ordered an investigation into the deadly raid.

Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein called for a full and transparent investigation, noting that, "if established as deliberate in a court of law, an air strike on a hospital may amount to a war crime".

Witness recalls deadly air raid on Afghan hospital

"This event is utterly tragic, inexcusable and possibly even criminal," Zeid said in a statement.

Meinie Nicolai, MSF President, also condemned the attack as "abhorrent and a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law."

"We demand total transparency from Coalition forces. We cannot accept that this horrific loss of life will simply be dismissed as 'collateral damage'."

US defence chief Ash Carter called the incident "tragic" and acknowledged that US forces were operating nearby in support of the Afghan army.

"While we are still trying to determine exactly what happened, I want to extend my thoughts and prayers to everyone affected. A full investigation into the tragic incident is underway in coordination with the Afghan government."

Among the fatalities in the early Saturday morning attack were three children. It also wounded 37 people, including 19 MSF staff, 18 patients and caretakers, according to the medical charity known for its French initial MSF.

The office of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Army General John Campbell, head of the US-led forces in Afghanistan had apologised for the incident.

Officials of the charity organisation said they "frantically phoned" NATO and Washington DC, as bombs rained on the hospital for "nearly an hour".

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Bart Janssesns, MSF operations chief, demanded "more answers" from the US government, adding that the location of the hospital has been well-known by US-led forces for the last five years.

Vickie Hawkins, another MSF spokesman, told Al Jazeera that the last time the US-led coalition was provided the exact location of the hospital was on September 29.

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Additional reporting by Shereena Qazi. Follow her on Twitter @ShereenaQazi

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/10/afghan-hospital-bombing-war-crime-msf-kunduz-151003151257396.html