President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday accused the United States of killing seven children and a woman in an airstrike in central Afghanistan -- an incident set to further damage frayed ties between the two allies.

President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday accused the United States of killing seven children and a woman in an airstrike in central Afghanistan -- an incident set to further damage frayed ties between the two allies.

Relations between Washington and Kabul have been rocky for years, and negotiations over an agreement that would allow some US occupation troops to remain in the country after this year have broken down into a long-running public dispute.

"As a result of bombardment by American forces last night... in Siahgird district of Parwan province, one woman and seven children were martyred and one civilian injured," a statement from Karzai's office said.

"The Afghan government has been asking for a complete end to operations in Afghan villages for years, but American forces acting against all mutual agreements... have once again bombarded a residential area and killed civilians."