Related: US airstrike kills 80 Taliban, 16 civilians in S.Afghanistan

    KABUL, May 23 (Xinhua) -- President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday ordered a thorough investigation into the bloody air strikes that left dozens of civilians dead and injured in southern Kandahar province Sunday night, a press release of presidency said Tuesday.

    "While the President has been deeply concerned over the coalition's bombardments on civilians in Panjwai district has ordered investigation thorough into the incident," added the statement.

    In the fatal incident, according to the press release, 16 civilians were killed while independent media quoting eyewitnesses say that around 50 people have lost their lives in the raid while dozens others got wounded.

    Meantime, officials rejected the figure and say majority of the casualties are Taliban militants.

    The bloody air raids, according to officials took place after the Taliban militias opened fired on security forces from villagers houses and that provoked military authorities to pound the villages.

    Karzai, who is currently on an official visit to United Arab Emirates, would summon the U.S.-led coalition commander and seek explanation, the statement added.

    "After returning home I would summon the commander-in-chief of the coalition forces and seek explanation," the statement quoted Karzai as saying.

    Air raids on the suspected hideout of militants in the past also claimed the lives of civilians. Seven locals lost their lives in such an attack in the militancy-hit eastern Kunar province recently. Enditem