Rioting escalates in Kabul
Rioting escalates in Kabul
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Monday, 29, May 2006 07:52
Escalating violence is threatening stability in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul after US troops fired on a Kabul crowd this morning.
Reports suggest that rioters have ransacked the offices of the Care International aid agency. Protesters, angered by US forces following traffic accident involving a US patrol vehicle and a local car, have overturned cars and attempted to advance on the parliamentary building.
Following the incident, an angry mob quickly gathered and circled the convoy. After attempts by Afghan police to disperse the crowd failed, reports suggest that US troops opened fire.
"The coalition is conducting a full investigation regarding this incident. There are indications that at least one coalition military vehicle fired warning shots over the crowd," commented Colonel Tom Collins of the US military.
"Compensation will be paid to those who are entitled. At this time we are still determining the facts of what happened."
When US forces left the scene local police arrived, firing at the crowd as they attempted to break up the increasingly angry inhabitants of the city.
In the wake of the attack the US military headquarters in the Afghan capital was forced into a "lockdown" where no troops were allowed to enter or leave. Outside, protesters burned police cars and threw stones at the building, shouting "death to America" according to some reports.
The latest reports from the Afghan health ministry suggest that 14 people have died and 60 are injured following continued rioting. Local officials have declared a six hour curfew beginning at 10:00 local time in an effort to prevent the violence continuing into the night.
Today's incident is a setback for US security forces in Afghanistan, indicating a level of resentment among the local population higher than many western commentators believe to be the case. Further south a Taliban-led insurgency continues to draw NATO troops to peacekeeping efforts.
In total the US has deployed 23,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, while NATO's mission is engaging 9,000 troops in the volatile southern region and the unstable capital of Kabul.