Afghan police kill seven civilians 'by mistake'

Afghan police have shot dead seven villagers near the Pakistani border after mistaking them for insurgents, police officials said. The seven young men were collecting firewood after dark in the southern town of Spin Boldak, a common transit route for Taliban militants.

Six officers have been detained for questioning, the local commander said. There is widespread anger over civilian deaths in Afghanistan. More than 2,400 were killed in fighting last year.