At least 17 Afghan policemen were killed in a friendly airstrike carried by the Coalition Forces in Nahr-e-Saraj district in the southern Helmand province on Friday, said the provincial council.

Attaullah Afghan, head of the provincial council, said that at least 17 policemen were killed in the airstrike which was carried by the Coalition Forces "by mistake", reported Tolo News.

However, Afghan's Interior ministry has said that the death toll is seven and that too is not clear whether the casualties were due to friendly airstrike or scuffle with Taliban.

The ministry said at least 11 other policemen have suffered injuries.

Attaullah Afghan, head of Helmand Provincial Council, said that at least 17 policemen were killed in the airstrike which was carried by the Coalition Forces "by mistake".

Coalition forces led by the United States of America with it allied forces--United Kingdom, Australia, Spain, and Poland-- are deployed in West Asia and middle east.

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