An airstrike launched by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) killed five armed men Friday in eastern Afghanistan's Khost province, while locals staged a protest claiming that the killed people were pro- government militia.

A press release issued by the ISAF said that the incident occurred when a NATO air weapons team was patrolling in the Nadir Shar Kot district of Khost province.

It said the ISAF helicopters identified a group of individuals with weapons moving from a previously spotted enemy position near Sinzai Kalay village.

As a result of this operation, the ISAF is aware of civilian casualty allegations and the ISAF Joint Command is sending a joint incident assessment team to look into those allegations, said the NATO press release.

Locals in Nadir Shar Kot district Friday rallied to demonstrate over the airstrike claiming that the five victims were pro- government militia who fight against the Taliban, Abdul Heynan, governor of the neighboring Musa Khel district, told Xinhua via telephone.

The protest ended without violence, said the district chief.