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Psychopathic child killers
US troops in Afghanistan have shot and killed a young child in Helmand province, leading to a fresh rebuke from President Karzai just as America is trying to persuade him to allow Western forces to stay in the country after the end of this year.

As the stand-off over a long-term security pact continues, The Times has learnt that the boy, aged about 4, was fatally wounded after an incident involving US Marines in Nad-e Ali district on Tuesday.

It was unclear what led to the shooting. Civilians are often caught in the cross-fire between insurgents and foreign troops but there were claims last night that the area was peaceful and the only shots fired were at the child.

Officials from the Kabul headquarters of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force confirmed that the child had been killed and said the incident was under investigation.

"Coalition officials will work with Afghan officials to determine what happened and why. We extend our deepest sympathies to the family who suffered the loss of a loved one," said Lieutenant-Colonel Will Griffin.

Mr Karzai has long used civilian casualties and night raids by foreign forces as arguments against signing a pact that would allow up to 12,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan to stay after the end of this year. The President, who must step down after elections scheduled for April, yesterday condemned the child's death.

"We have always stood against civilian casualties and called for an absolute end to US military operations at homes and Afghan villages to avoid such killings where innocent children or civilians are the victims," the presidential palace said in a statement. "We condemn the killing of this innocent child in Helmand."

Relations between Kabul and Washington are uncertain as Mr Karzai refuses to sign a bilateral security agreement that would allow a foreign troops presence beyond this year, when the Nato-led mission officially ends.

A move by the Afghan Government to release 88 prisoners from detention from a now Afghan-run prison has added further tension after the US argued that many were dangerous insurgents responsible for the killing or wounding of 60 coalition troops and 70 Afghan security forces.

Since Mr Karzai ignored a non-binding call by a grand council of elders and politicians to sign the pact there has been a flurry of civilian casualties in Helmand province.

Meanwhile, the Taleban has denied involvement in the case of a young girl who alleged that her brother had tried to force her to become a suicide bomber. Afghan officials and the girl have given conflicting accounts of the incident in a remote part of Helmand province this week. The provincial government has ordered an investigation.