Germany has agreed to pay 5,000 dollars per family to the victims of an airstrike in northern Afghanistan last year in which 91 people were killed, dpa quoted the defence ministry as saying Thursday. After months of negotiations, lawyers representing the victims appeared likely to accept the settlement, which is officially being branded "humanitarian aid" to avoid legal disputes. The money would also go to 11 people seriously injured in the airstrike on two fuel tankers hijacked by the Taliban in the Kunduz region last September. Each family is to be issued with a separate bank account containing the funds. An official report by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan said up to 142 were killed or injured in the attack. It is unclear how many were civilians. The agreement was reached after an independent mediator met with village elders and families of the victims. The online edition of Stern news magazine reported that the Afghan Human Rights commission was also involved. The German defence ministry said hoped that payment could be finalized this month. Lawyers representing the victims' families had initially demanded far higher compensation. If they reject the deal, this would further delay the settlement.
