SO sad.
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's government Monday pledged to investigate the death of a 12-year-old Afghan girl after Italian troops in western Afghanistan fired on the car she was travelling in, but defended the action of its soldiers.
Italy's defence minister said the troops had respected all the rules of engagement, even if that still left room for a "terrible error." Italy has said the incident Sunday occurred when the car drove at high speed and ignored warning signs.
"There's deep sadness, deep regret for what has happened but unfortunately terrible episodes like this cannot be excluded when one works in an area this complex, this dangerous and this difficult like Afghanistan today," Ignazio La Russa told radio.
Civilian deaths caused by foreign troops in Afghanistan have become a major cause of friction between the government and its Western backers, and sapped support for the presence of international forces in the country.
Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told the Il Messaggero newspaper that Italy would investigate the shooting and make all necessary checks, but called it a tragic incident stemming from procedures Italian soldiers must follow in case of danger.
"Our soldiers are obliged in the face of certain conditions -- an unknown car going at a great speed, a potential danger -- ... to put in to place some precise rules that all the contingents apply," he said.
The girl's father has said the military convoy was driving behind him and he could not see or hear any signals to pull over. He has accused the convoy of driving past his car and not stopping to help his family reach a hospital.
Three other family members were wounded, the family said.
Italy is the sixth largest troop contributor to the NATO-led military operation in Afghanistan.
(Writing by Deepa Babington; editing by Michael Roddy)
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