KABUL -- A United Nations team has found "convincing evidence" that 90 civilians, including 60 children, were killed in US-led air strikes last week, the body's representative in Afghanistan said Tuesday.

The UN Assistance Mission Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) human rights team was sent to Shindand district of the western province of Herat after local claims that scores of civilians were killed in Friday's strikes.

"Investigations by UNAMA found convincing evidence, based on the testimony of eyewitnesses and others, that some 90 civilians were killed, including 60 children, 15 women and 15 men," special representative Kai Eide said in a statement.

A separate investigation appointed by President Hamid Karzai said at the weekend that more than 90 civilians were killed in the strikes.

The toll is one of the highest for civilians killed in military action since international troops started deploying to Afghanistan in 2001 to topple the hardline Taliban regime and root out other extremists.

The US-led coalition had initially said only 30 Taliban had died but acknowledged on Tuesday that five civilians -- two women and three children -- were also dead.

"The destruction from aerial bombardment was clearly evident with some seven-eight houses having been totally destroyed and serious damage to many others," Eide said.

"Local residents were able to confirm the number of casualties, including names, age and gender of the victims."

Eide said the matter was of "grave concern" to the United Nations.

"I have repeatedly made clear that the safety and welfare of civilians must be considered above all else during the planning and conduct of all military operations," he said.