Afghan villagers mark new burial site of victims who were allegedly killed during the coalition airstrikes in Bala Baluk district of Farah province, Afghanistan, 05 May 2009

The International Committee of the Red Cross says U.S.-led coalition warplanes killed dozens of civilians in western Afghanistan earlier this week.

Spokeswoman Jessica Barry said Wednesday that an ICRC team in Farah province at the site of the strikes found the bodies of women and children among those killed.

Barry also said that an aid volunteer for Afghanistan's Red Crescent organization was killed, along with 13 members of his family.

U.S. and Afghan authorities say they are investigating the incident.

The airstrikes took place during fighting that broke out after Taliban insurgents publicly executed three civilians.

There were reports that militants took refuge in civilian homes during the fighting.

Earlier, Afghan officials said the strikes killed dozens of civilians and 25 Taliban insurgents.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for greater protections for Afghan citizens.  Speaking in Washington Tuesday, he voiced support for anti-terrorism efforts, but he said measures must be taken to protect Afghan civilians.

The U.S. State Department expressed deep regret over the loss of life among innocent Afghans from operations in which U.S. forces are involved.  

Civilian casualties in the U.S.-led fight against the Taliban have stirred outrage across Afghanistan. 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.