Afghan Official Rebukes NATO for Civilian Deaths.

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Afghan president's spokesman sternly rebuked American officials on Saturday, saying that the civilian casualties last week during an NATO-Afghan raid on Taliban fighters in eastern Afghanistan were unacceptable, not only because of the loss of innocent life but also because Afghan forces were not involved in the decision to call in an airstrike. Aimal Faizi, the spokesman, said American forces had made a ''unilateral'' decision to strike a home where Taliban fighters were hiding before dawn on Wednesday, while the Afghan forces were prepared to fight it out. Afghan officials have said 18 civilians were killed, and Mr. Faizi said it was the bombing that had killed women and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]