PRESS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES AFGHANISTAN Kabul, Afghanistan Phone: [phone]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 7, 2009

Release Number 20090702-01

One Afghan man dead of wounds sustained in a escalation of force incident Friday

KABUL, Afghanistan - One civilian man has died of a head wound sustained when he failed to stop his vehicle when approaching a Coalition checkpoint in Khowst province Friday, after multiple warnings to stop.

Two other civilians, a child and a woman, were also injured in the incident. The child remains in critical condition due to a head wound. The woman was treated for minor injuries. All injured were treated at the scene by Coalition soldiers then transported to a Coalition forces medical facility Friday evening.

Coalition soldiers were assisting with the recovery of a military vehicle when the civilian vehicle approached them at a high rate of speed. Members of the security team attempted to stop the vehicle, using flashlights and other visual signals as well as warning shots, all of which were unsuccessful. Coalition forces acted in self-defense by engaging the vehicle with small arms fire.

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United States Forces Afghanistan's mission, in coordination with NATO's International Security Assistance Force, is to conduct operations to defeat terrorist networks and insurgents by developing effective governance and building the Afghan National Security Force. Effective security throughout the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan facilitates continued regional stability and increases economic development for the people of Afghanistan.

Contact Information - US Forces Afghanistan Public Affairs Office

Tel [phone] or cell phone [phone]

[e-mail]

Afghanistan

USFOR

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