The News (Pakistan) - About 800 angry Afghans demanded Saturday that US-led forces quit their area to end heavy fighting as an Afghan official alleged foreign troops had shot dead two civilians in error.

Demonstrators in Sawkai district of the eastern province of Kunar shouted slogans against the coalition forces, alleging a new bombing raid overnight had destroyed eight homes.

The US-led coalition and the separate NATO-led force that also operates in Afghanistan said they had no information about any strikes in the area.

"Two men were killed and three other people including a woman were wounded when their car was fired at by foreign forces," Manogai district chief Zalmai Yousufzai said.

"The Americans told us, 'We fired at a man who ran at the mountains but it hit the car'." The coalition could not confirm the district chief's claims of civilian casualties.

Those involved in Saturday's demonstration demanded to know why bombs had been dropped overnight, saying there were no Taliban fighters in the area.

"We want the government to stop them," a statement read out at the gathering said. "We want the foreign forces to leave our areas and stop bombing our homes."

They also accused the US-backed government of not fulfilling its promise to bring development and security.

It was not immediately possible to independently confirm details of the alleged bombing and shooting. Rugged and remote Kunar has seen heavy fighting in the past weeks with locals saying several civilians have been killed.

Civilians are regularly caught in the crossfire of the fighting between Taliban insurgents and other militants and the international and Afghan security forces.

More than 700 have been killed in insurgency-linked violence this year, about half by rebel attacks and half by military action.

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