KABUL - NATO forces accidentally killed two civilians, including a woman, and wounded another during an operation against Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan, the alliance said on Saturday.

Afghan and international forces killed the civilians overnight as they searched compounds for a Taliban commander believed responsible for a string of attacks in the Islamist group`s southern spiritual heartland of Kandahar.

The joint force accidentally killed the two civilians and wounded the man after a brief exchange of fire at a Kandahar compound, the alliance said in a press statement that pledged "to review this unfortunate incident".

"We take accidents such as this very seriously, and we remain fully committed to protecting the people of Afghanistan and take every precaution to prevent civilian casualties," said spokeswoman Navy Captain Jane Campbell.

The troops later found and detained the Taliban commander being sought in the operation, which also resulted in the killing of an insurgent and the wounding another, NATO said.

Civilian casualties from NATO operations create friction between the Afghan government and its international allies, although foreign forces have adopted a "courageous restraint" rule aimed at limiting the incidents.

BDST: 14:39 HRS, July 3, 2010