NATO warplanes killed at least 50 civilians, mostly women and children, in bombing in southern Afghanistan during a major islamic holiday, local leaders said yesterday.

The incident happened on Tuesday, the middle of the Eid Ul-Fitr festival marking the end of the Muslim fasting month, in Panjwai, an area where the alliance said it had killed hundreds of insurgents in a two-week offensive last month.

NATO says it killed 48 insurgents during heavy fighting in the area in Kandahar province and had received credible reports several civilians were killed in the operation. The defence ministry has sent a team to investigate. ?It was late at night ? that might be the reason they didn?t know where to bomb,? said provincial assembly member Agha Lalai. ?They have bombed residential houses.?

Visiting the wounded in hospital, tribal elder Naik Mohammad said 60 civilians had died. Villagers also said 60 died and another member of the provincial assembly put the toll at 80. Witnesses say 25 homes were razed in 4-5 hours of bombing.