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German labor minister resigns over attack

BERLIN, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- The German Labor Ministry said Friday Labor Minister Franz Josef Jung resigned his post due to a controversial NATO airstrike in Afghanistan.

CNN said Jung's resignation follows that of the German army's chief of staff, Gen. Wolfgang Schneiderhan, who left his post amid allegations of a cover-up for a deadly air strike in Afghanistan's Kunduz Province.

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Germany's Bild newspaper reported this week the death toll from the Sept. 4 airstrike reached 142, despite initial death tolls of at least 90. Bild said Schneiderhan allegedly knew at least half of those killed in the attack were civilians, but nonetheless Jung repeatedly said only Taliban militants were killed.

The NATO airstrike targeted two tankers Taliban militants had hijacked and from which they were attempting to steal fuel, CNN reported.

Jung, a former defense minister for Germany, confirmed Friday he was taking responsibility for any miscommunication that occurred in the wake of the deadly airstrike.

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