NATO appoints US military officers to investigate Afghan hospital bombing

NATO said it was continuing its inquiry into the October 3 bombing of a Doctors Without Borders hospital in northern Afghanistan and had appointed three US military officers from outside the chain of command to handle the investigation to ensure impartiality.

Gen. John Campbell, the commander of NATO's Resolute Support Mission which is training Afghanistan's security forces, has appointed US Army Major General William Hickman and two brigadier generals to continue the investigation begun by Brig. Gen. Richard Kim, NATO said in a statement.

"We will be forthright and transparent and we will hold ourselves accountable for any mistakes made," the statement quoted Campbell as saying. "While we desire the investigation to be timely, what's most important is that it be done thoroughly and correctly."

US gunships bombed the Doctors Without Borders hospital in the city of Kunduz on October 3, killing at least 13 staff members and 10 patients. Many were wounded. The main building was destroyed and the hospital has been shut down.

Source: MENA