White phosphorus, a smoke-producing agent commonly used to hide military operations, can cause severe burns. Groups such as the Human Rights Watch and other watchdogs oppose its use in civilian areas.

The coalition's assertions come on the heels of criticism of international military activities that affect civilians in Afghanistan and claims that coalition forces have used the chemical against people, a charge the United States denies.

Militants on Tuesday "mortared" a NATO-led "combat outpost with white phosphorus and high explosive rounds" in Paktika province, the coalition said. No injuries and damage were reported.

On Saturday, troops found white phosphorous mortar rounds in Bamiyan and a white phosphorus rocket in a military base in Nangarhar province.

The U.S. military earlier this month declassified a report of 44 events in Afghanistan in which itOn March 4, 2005, at Defendant’s pretrial

conference, the parties indicated that they were in plea negotiations. Over the course of the next

several months, the government also engaged in plea negotiations with many of his co-defendants,

successfully resulting in pleas of guilty. On August 2, 2005, the district court set a trial date of

September 7, 2005. The trial was apparently delayed because of the illness of the presiding judge.

Appellee’s Br. at 4. On October 5, 2005, the district court held a pretrial conference for Defendant

and his remaining co-defendant Edward Zeilstra. The parties agreed to continue plea negotiations

and a change of plea hearing for Defendant was set for October 14, 2005. At the plea hearing,


                