A NATO airstrike killed seven women and injured six early Sunday in eastern Afghanistan, an official said, dpa reported.
"The incident took place before dawn in Alingar district of Laghman province when the women were out collecting firewood," deputy provincial governor Jamiyatullah Hamidi said.
NATO spokesman Hagen Messer told dpa that: "We have become aware that possibly five to eight civilians were killed during the strike on a group of insurgents, but we cannot confirm it." He said that 45 insurgents were killed in the strike, which was under investigation.
The Taliban said that 20 civilians were killed in the airstrike.