Official: President Karzai apologizes to Britain amid reports Afghan forces kill 3 UK troops

Probe as Afghan forces reportedly kill 3 UK troops

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered an investigation into reports that Afghan forces fired on international troops Tuesday in the country’s south, killing several coalition soldiers, a spokesman said.

Karzai also sent a letter to the British government offering an apology if initial reports were confirmed, a NATO official said.

It was not clear who was to blame for the deaths or whether the attack was the result of friendly fire or intentional.

Presidential spokesman Waheed Omar said Karzai was upset to hear initial reports that Afghan troops were responsible.

The international force earlier said in a statement that three of its service members died following an attack Tuesday in southern Afghanistan, but it provided few details.

Omar said Karzai has asked the defense minister to obtain more information about the attack and how it happened.

“If it is confirmed, it’s a very unfortunate attack and the government of Afghanistan will do everything to make sure the proper traitors are brought to justice,” Omar said.

Karzai sent a letter of condolences to Britain and NATO on Tuesday offering preliminary apologies, a senior NATO official said Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose the information.

In November, a rogue Afghan policeman killed five British troops, underlining the difficulty in training the Afghan security forces who are hoped to take more responsibilities, allowing international forces to return home.

Britain is the largest contributor to NATO forces in Afghanistan after the United States.