NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer urged alliance countries to take action to lower civilian casualties from fighting in Afghanistan today, saying such incidents could undermine the mission, reported Reuters. De Hoop Scheffer called on defence ministers meeting in Brussels next week to tackle the issue, insisted any future accidents be promptly investigated and urged a greater effort to provide humanitarian aid to Afghans. "Any loss of innocent civilian life and damage to civilian property risks eroding the support we continue to receive from the vast majority of people in Afghanistan, as well as from their government and parliament," he told a defence conference. "It also raises real and justified concern in our own countries ... We can, must and will do better," he added. De Hoop Scheffer said better coordination was needed between the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, the Afghan army and the separate U.S.-led coalition. -- SPA
