War crimes inquiry demanded of US attack on Afghan hospital

The United States is facing calls to submit to an international war crimes investigation into the deadly strike on a Doctors Without Borders’ hospital in Afghanistan after Washington has admitted that it was caused by “human errors.”

Human Rights Watch demanded on Thursday for an independent inquiry into the October 3 attack on the charity-run hospital in the northern city of Kunduz that killed 30 people.  

The rights group said "serious questions" remained about "whether the attackers knowingly or recklessly fired on a functioning hospital."

"This warrants a criminal investigation into possible war crimes, but the Pentagon did not clarify today whether recommendations made to senior commanders include possible criminal charges.” said the rights group.

"Moreover, we are deeply concerned that any decision making about possible criminal charges remains within the chain of command responsibility for military operations in Afghanistan," it added.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the charity that ran the hospital, also demanded an international investigation. It called for the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC) to investigate the attack. The independent body, which was created under international law, has never been used so far.

To launch an investigation, the body would need permission from the US and Afghanistan, and neither country has so far agreed.

"The frightening catalogue of errors outlined today illustrates gross negligence on the part of US forces and violations of the rules of war," said MSF general director Christopher Stokes.

According to an investigation by the medical charity, US military commanders continue to attack the hospital for 17 minutes after being warned by MSF that their aircraft was firing on a medical center full of doctors and civilians.

The AC-130 gunship fired 211 shells at the compound. MSF reported this month that several doctors and nurses were killed immediately, and patients who could not move burned to death in the ensuing fire.

General John Campbell, the top NATO and US commander in Afghanistan said the strike was "caused primarily by human error". He said on Wednesday that individuals involved in the attack had been suspended pending "standard military justice".

“The medical facility was misidentified as a target by US personnel who believed they were striking a different building several hundred meters away where there were reports of combatants," Campbell claimed.

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