Afghans killed during search for missing U.S. troops

KABUL (Reuters) - NATO forces mistakenly killed seven Afghan soldiers and police in an air strike during a battle while searching for two missing American soldiers in Afghanistan, the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

The NATO-led force confirmed the deaths and said it was investigating whether its air strikes were responsible. It said an eighth Afghan, a civilian working with the military, was also killed, and 18 Afghans and five American soldiers were wounded.

The battle took place on Friday during a manhunt for the two soldiers who went missing on Wednesday.

"Yesterday, in a NATO air strike, seven Afghan (soldiers and police) were martyred in Badghis province," Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman General Zaher Azimy said.

Friday's battle took place during a search and rescue operation for two soldiers from the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division, who went missing after a resupply mission.

The Taliban and provincial officials in Badghis say the two missing Americans drowned in a river. A Taliban spokesman said the militants had recovered their bodies.

NATO says the search is still under way.

U.S. Navy Captain Jane Campbell, a spokeswoman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), said: "We are saddened by the loss of life and injuries sustained during this very important mission."