The deaths of civilians and militants in Afghanistan came days after the US airfirce bombed and killed 10 French soldiers in an area close to Laghman.

This is the biggest single loss of foreign forces in a “friendly fire” incident since the militants' removal from power in 2001.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who flew to the Afghan capital to pay respects to the dead soldiers, said French troops must stay on to fight for the Americans even if the Americans kill them all.