Afghan President Hamid Karzai has urged Afghan and coalition forces to use "extreme caution" as they root out Islamic militants.

In a statement Sunday, Mr. Karzai expressed concern over civilian deaths in recent weeks as a result of counter-terror operations in civilian areas. He said that while his government is committed to combating terrorism, it is also responsible for safety of the Afghan people.

The statement comes two days after three civilians, including a woman and a child, were killed in a U.S. air strike against a suspected militant hideout.

Four suspected militants were also killed in the incident in central Uruzgan province. Two more children were wounded and taken to a U.S. base in the southern city of Kandahar for treatment.