US led coalition forces in Afghanistan say they have used air power to destroy two vehicles carrying militants in remote Waygal district near the border with Pakistan.

However, a district governor says 22 civilians were killed and eight injured in the strike.

The coalition says troops called in air support after a base in rugged Nuristan province came under attack, and denied any civilians had been killed.

It says the insurgents got into two vehicles and the vehicles were destroyed and the militants killed.

The district governor says those killed were civilians leaving their villages ahead of a military operation against Taliban insurgents.

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