The Afghan government on Tuesday condemned the death of up to 17 civilians in US air raids on a mountainous eastern region, where the American military is searching for a special forces team that went missing a week ago.

Asadullah Wafa, governor of Kunar province, said that 17 civilians had been killed when a US aircraft bombed a compound in the village of Chechal. He said villagers had rushed to the compound after a first round of bombing and been caught by a second round of fire.