A U.S. military review of an airstrike last week in western Afghanistan maintains that only five civilians were killed, Pentagon officials said yesterday, a finding that starkly contradicts reports by the United Nations and Afghan officials that the civilian death toll from the bombing was at least 90.

The top Marine Corps general said yesterday that the U.S. military will hand over security responsibilities to Iraqi forces next week in Iraq's western province of Anbar, paving the way to reduce the 25,000-strong Marine contingent there and free up more Marines to go to Afghanistan.

For the past six years, military relations between the United States and Afghanistan have been governed by a two-page "diplomatic note" giving U.S. forces virtual carte blanche to conduct operations as they see fit.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 26 -- United Nations officials in Afghanistan said Tuesday that there was "convincing evidence" at least 90 civilians -- two-thirds of them children -- were killed in a U.S.-led airstrike last week that caused the Afghan government to call for a review of U.S. and NATO military operations in the country.

NOWSHERA, Pakistan -- Lal Bahadur walked down from the mountains about two weeks ago. With his back to Afghanistan and his wife and five children alongside, he descended steep inclines through the northern edge of Pakistan's tribal areas as artillery fire boomed around them. It was nearly a full day before the family found a place to rest. By the time they reached the district of Nawagai, the price of a ride to safety in the nearby city of Peshawar had already increased 10-fold.

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 26 -- Afghanistan this year experienced the sharpest decline in opium production since the United States toppled the country's Taliban rulers, according to a U.N. report.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 25 -- Pakistan's ruling coalition broke apart Monday amid a political battle over the presidency, paralyzing the U.S.-backed government at a time when Taliban insurgents here and in neighboring Afghanistan appear to be gaining ground.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 23 -- U.S. military officials said Saturday that they are investigating allegations by Afghan officials that a U.S.-led bombing raid killed at least 70 civilians in western Afghanistan in the past week.

KABUL, Aug. 20 -- Noor Ahmad Gayezabi said a silent prayer while watching the small family TV with his 13-year-old son. "Help Nikpai. Help Nikpai. Help Afghanistan."

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 19 -- In unusually large and well-coordinated attacks in eastern Afghanistan, Taliban insurgents killed 10 French paratroopers in a mountain road ambush and at least six suicide bombers attempted to storm a NATO alliance base, NATO and Afghan officials said Tuesday.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ADM Michael Mullen speaks with reporters at the Pentagon.

COL Pat White, Commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division speaks via satellite from Iraq, providing an update on ongoing security operations in Iraq.

LTG Frank Helmick, Commanding General, Multi-National Security Transition Command and NATO Training Mission Iraq, and Jawad al-Bulani, Iraqi Minister of Interior update the media on the progress of building ministerial capacity and capabilities of the National Police.

Tuesday's coverage of Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen James Conway speaking at The American Legion 90th Annual National Convention in Phoenix, AZ.

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen James Conway hosts a media roundtable on Marine Corps issues and programs.

National Guard Bureau Chief LTG H. Steven Blum speaks at The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States 37th Annual Conference in Savannah, GA.

USNORTHCOM Commander Gen Victor Renuart speaks at The Atlantic Council of the United States' ''Program on International Studies'' in Washington, DC.

LTG Lloyd Austin, Commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq, speaks via satellite with reporters at the Pentagon, providing an update on ongoing security operations in Iraq.

Polli Brunelli, Director, and J. Scott Wiedmann, Deputy Director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, provide an update on DoD efforts to facilitate absentee voting and encourage electronic voting.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen James Cartwright speak with reporters at the Pentagon.