The commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan, US General Stanley McChrystal, has publicly apologized to the Afghans after a US air strike killed at least 27 civilians.

In the recorded statement McChrystal expresses "extreme sadness" and says the foreign forces are in Afghanistan "to protect the Afghan people."

"Sunday morning, the International Security Assistance Force, while conducting a mission with Afghan security forces, launched an attack against what we believed to be a group of insurgents," McChrystal said in the one-minute video.

"We now believe the attack killed and injured a number of Afghan citizens. I have spoken with President Karzai and apologized to him and the Afghan people. I have instituted a thorough investigation to prevent this from happening again," he noted.

"We are extremely saddened by this tragic loss of innocent lives. I have made it clear to our forces that we are here to protect the Afghan people."

"I pledge to strengthen our efforts to regain your trust to build a brighter future for all Afghans," he stated, expressing his condolences to the families of the dead.

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