EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: Australia has accepted responsibility for last week's military operation in Afghanistan which killed two young boys.

The seven and eight-year-olds were shot during a Special Forces operation in Oruzgan Province. Australian troops were involved.

The provincial governor says the shootings were accidental.

As leader of the international mission in Oruzgan, the Defence Minister says Australia accepts responsibility, but admits compensation will likely be hundreds of dollars, not thousands.

STEPHEN SMITH, DEFENCE MINISTER: You need to examine the facts and circumstances of each case. But generally given Afghanistan's circumstances and economy, we're talking in the hundreds rather than the thousands. But it's invariably the case that in these circumstances compensation is given and I'm expecting that will occur in this case.

EMMA ALBERICI: Defence won't release any details of the shootings until its investigation is over.