President Barack Obama says he is "ultimately accountable" for civilian deaths on the Afghanistan battlefield.
Speaking at a White House news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai (HAH'-mihd KAR'-zeye), Obama said civilian deaths are "something that I have to carry with me" and that it is not something he takes lightly.
He said the U.S. is doing everything possible to prevent the killing of Afghan civilians.
Obama said the overwhelming majority of civilian casualties in Afghanistan are caused by terrorist acts by the Taliban. Some suspected terrorists have cited civilian deaths as justification for their actions.
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