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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

U.S., NATO killing the most civilians

The Spokesman-Review

Taliban fighters attack U.S. or NATO forces in populated areas, then retreat to civilian homes. Western forces respond with massive firepower or an airstrike.

That increasingly common pattern of clashes has led to a climbing number of civilian deaths and rising anger among Afghan officials and ordinary people.

While militants killed 178 civilians in attacks through June 23, Western forces killed 203, according to an Associated Press count based on figures from Afghan and international officials.

Exact counts are nearly impossible in the chaos of war. Separate figures from the U.N. and an umbrella organization of Afghan and international aid groups show that, through May 31, the number of civilians killed by international forces was roughly equal to those killed by insurgents.

Caracas, Venezuela

Chavez warns of U.S. war threat

President Hugo Chavez urged soldiers on Sunday to prepare for a guerrilla-style war against the United States, saying Washington is using psychological and economic warfare as part of a campaign aimed at derailing his government.

Chavez spoke inside Tiuna Fort – Venezuela’s military nerve-center – before hundreds of uniformed soldiers standing alongside armored vehicles and tanks decorated with banners reading: “Fatherland, Socialism, or Death! We will triumph!”

U.S. officials reject claims that Washington is considering a military attack.

Bucharist, Romania

Tourist killed in run-in with bear

A brown bear attacked a group of U.S. tourists on a remote trail in the Carpathian Mountains, killing a woman and injuring two other people, authorities said Sunday.

The group of six tourists chased off the bear when it tried to approach them near a cabin about 75 miles north of Bucharest, but the bear reappeared on a trail and attacked the group around 10 p.m. Saturday.

The bear attacked a 26-year-old woman. After she fell down and tourists threw stones at the bear, it turned its attention to a man, biting him on the leg. The bear then mauled to death the 31-year-old woman, despite more attempts to distract it by throwing stones.

Officials did not immediately disclose the victims’ identities or hometowns.