WORLD BRIEFING / POLAND

Seven Polish troops had no reason to launch a 2007 mortar and machine-gun attack that killed six civilians in an Afghan village, a prosecutor argued at the start of their court-martial.

Prosecutor Jakub Mytych read out an indictment that accused the two officers, three enlisted men and two warrant officers serving with NATO forces of violating laws that protect civilians in time of war. Six of the soldiers could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted, and the seventh could get 25 years.

All have denied the charges, which involve an attack on the village of Nangarkhel in eastern Afghanistan. Poland has sent 1,600 troops to the country.