Monday, May 22 2006 11:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kandahar (Afghanistan): Coalition warplanes bombed a village in southern Afghanistan overnight, killing around 50 people, the US-led coalition and witnesses said today (May 22, 2006).

The coalition said the 50 were Taliban but residents said civilians were among the dead in the strike in southern Kandahar province.

"I can confirm there was a coalition air strike against a known Taliban stronghold near the village of Azizi in the Panjwayi district and we believe more than 50 Taliban have been killed in the operation," coalition spokesman Major Scott Lundy told sources.

An Afghan intelligence officer confirmed the incident to sources and said on condition of anonymity that at least 27 people were dead.