The victims of a NATO air raid in Afghanistan.

A joint operation with Afghan forces last week on this village claimed 18 lives, most were women and children.

NATO apologised and Afghan President Hamid Karzai promised it would be the last residential attack.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) AFGHAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI SAYING:

"Yes an agreement has been reached clearly with NATO that no bombardment of civilian homes for any reason is allowed and we rather consider this absolutely disproportionate use of force and illegitimate use of force."

After meeting with NATO and U.S. officials, Karzai said foreign forces would not be allowed to target civilian areas even if under attack.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) AFGHAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI SAYING:

"Airplanes are not to be use in civilian areas, if they don't do it in their own country why they do it in Afghanistan. It is completed banned, absolutely banned, absolutely."

As the US-led NATO force prepares to withdraw by 2014, the Taliban has used civilian deaths to rally anger against foreign troops.

Lindsey Parietti, Reuters