Mediaboss Marketing

TONY WALL

Last updated05:00, March 26 2017

HIT & RUN

Fatima, 3, is allegedly one of the six Afghans killed during an SAS-led raid in 2010.

Prime Minister Bill English is expected to make a decision "shortly" about launching aninquiry into the allegations aboutSASactivities in Afghanistan in 2010.

Meanwhile the SAS has been calling the partners and relatives of soldiers serving overseas to ensure them the service acts with "integrity", in the wake of allegations about its activities in Afghanistan.

The unusual calls come in response to the bookHit &Runby journalists NickyHagerand Jon Stephenson, which allegesthat a botched SAS-led raid on two villages in the Tirgiran Valley in 2010 caused the deaths of six civilians, but no insurgents.

MONIQUE FORD / FAIRFAX NZ

Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson's book Hit & Run.

They included a three-year-old girl, a father and son, two poor farmers, and a teacher visiting home.

READ MORE: *Afghan villagers engage NZ lawyers over 'Hit and Run' SAS raid *Hit and Run: The six people a new book alleges a NZ SAS raid killed

Details of the deaths were based on interviews with villagers, a report from the Afghan government, and unnamed sources who say they were involved in the raid.

MONIQUE FORD/FAIRFAX NZ

Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson at the launch of their new book Hit & Run earlier this week.

One spouse who received a call said it felt like the SAS was trying to put a spin on the story and considered the call "bizarre". The person's partner is currently serving in the Middle East.

Asked about the reason for the calls, a New Zealand Defence Force spokesperson said: "We have nothing further to add at this time".

Hagersaid he believed the SAS was trying to do damage control because they knewa lot of people were unhappy about their conduct.

"What I believe is going on here is the SAS is trying to keep a lid on this because there's a lot of people who know things that they don't want to come out," Hager said.

Stephenson said the SAS has been withholding information for years. "The public has beenactively misled. We deserve to know why, and who was responsible."

English's press secretary, Nick Venter, could not confirm when exactly an announcement can be expected but indicatedEnglish is meeting with Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and theNZDFtoday to discuss theallegations.

-Sunday Star Times

The rest is here:
SAS calling for 'integrity' in wake of Afghanistan death revelations - Stuff.co.nz