US troops kill four Afghan police with "friendly fire"

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KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. troops killed four Afghan policemen and wounded another after mistaking them for militants during an operation in southern Afghanistan in which two Afghan soldiers died, officials said on Friday.

The incident happened on Thursday in Helmand province's Girishk district when U.S. troops spotted a vehicle carrying five armed men approaching an area where they were in contact with militants, said U.S. spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jerry O'Hara.

He said the police officers had not been in the uniform of the Afghan National Police and the vehicle had tried to drive away quickly.

"Coalition forces shot at the vehicle, killing four and wounding one," he said. "We are conducting an investigation. Of course we regret this incident."