German Court Hearning-79 Afghan families seek damages for deaths of civilians in 2009 air strike

A German court is to hear a case from 79 Afghan families seeking damages for the deaths of dozens of civilians killed in a 2009 air strike. 

The families represent victims who died when a German commander ordered the attack on two fuel tankers stolen by insurgents. 

The families are seeking three point three million euros from the German government.  

In 2010, the German defence ministry paid out 430 thousand dollars to victims' families. 

At the time, German authorities labelled the payment as humanitarian aid and said it did not constitute an acceptance of legal responsibility.

The attack on the tankers occurred near the northern Afghan town of Kunduz.  

At least 90 people were killed, though a lawyer for the Afghan families contends that 137 people were killed. Many of the victims were women and children trying to siphon fuel as the tankers had been abandoned.  

GBC