May 24 (Bloomberg) -- The reported deaths of civilians during a raid by U.S.-led forces on Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan will be investigated ``to the fullest,'' said U.S. Brigadier General Carter Ham of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The coalition takes civilian casualties ``very, very seriously,'' Ham, the deputy director for regional operations, said yesterday in Washington, according to the Defense Department Web site. ``The Taliban knows that, and it's not unusual at all to see them operate in and amongst noncombatants.''

As many as 80 Taliban fighters may have been killed in an operation May 22 near Azizi in Kandahar province, the Combined Forces Command Afghanistan said. Afghan President Hamid Karzai yesterday ordered an investigation into reports that at least 16 civilians were killed, Agence France-Presse reported.

U.S.-led coalition forces and the Afghan army have clashed with Taliban gunmen in recent days in southern and eastern provinces as part of military operations to regain control of the regions. The Taliban has increased attacks that have included more than 22 suicide bombings in the past two months, targeting Afghan officials and coalition and Afghan forces.

Karzai will summon U.S. Army Lieutenant General Karl Eikenberry, commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, to explain the deaths of civilians, AFP reported yesterday, citing a statement from the president's office.

Asadullah Khalid, Kandahar's provincial governor, said after the attack that Taliban rebels hid in homes in the village, AFP reported. Karzai, visiting the United Arab Emirates, yesterday condemned ``the cowardly act of terrorists hiding in people's homes,'' the news agency said.

Attacks in South

At least 12 Taliban fighters and three policemen were killed yesterday when a convoy carrying a deputy provincial governor and a police chief was attacked in the southern province of Helmand, AFP said, citing unidentified local government officials.

There has been ``significant fighting'' in the south, a sign the Taliban want to stop the expansion of control by government forces, Ham said at a Defense Department briefing, according to a transcript. The Afghan National Army now has 30,000 soldiers.

``One of the reasons I believe that there are more incidents in the south is that the Afghan security forces are going more places,'' Ham said. ``They are going places where they didn't go before and certainly meeting some resistance.''

The Taliban had their stronghold in southern Afghanistan before the Islamist militia was ousted from power in the U.S.-led war on terrorism in 2001.

Coalition forces and the Afghan army last month began Operation Mountain Lion, searching for Taliban and al-Qaeda bases in the eastern provinces of Kunar, Nuristan and Nangahar. About 2,500 soldiers are taking part in the operation, supported by coalition aircraft.

The soldiers have carried out 650 patrols and discovered 12 ammunition bases since the operation began, Ham said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Paul Tighe in Sydney at ptighe@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: May 23, 2006 21:59 EDT