KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, May 9, SPA -- Air strikes called in by U.S. Special Forces soldiers fighting with insurgents in southern Afghanistan killed at least 21 civilians,officials said Wednesday. One coalition soldier was alsokilled. Helmand provincial Gov. Assadullah Wafa said Talibanfighters sought shelter in villagers' homes during thefighting in the Sangin district Tuesday evening, and thatsubsequent air strikes killed 21 civilians, includingseveral women and children. The U.S.-led coalition said militants fired guns,rocket-propelled grenades and mortars at U.S. SpecialForces and Afghan soldiers on patrol 25 kilometers (15miles) north of Sangin. Maj. William Mitchell, a spokesman for the U.S.-ledcoalition, said troops killed a «significant» number ofmilitants. «We don't have any report of civilian casualties. Thereare enemy casualties _ I think the number is significant,»Mitchell said without releasing an exact figure, the Associated Press reported.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/448124