Vilolent Protests Grip Afghan City

[Guest Lottie]

Supporters of the sacked governor of the Afghan city of Herat, Ismail Khan, have set fire to local UN offices on the second day of unrest there.

Unconfirmed reports say at least seven supporters of the ousted governor were killed on Sunday in clashes with US and Afghan government troops and police.

A governor backed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai has taken office in a ceremony in the western city.

Mr Khan has ruled Herat for decades and has resisted the president's authority.

Hundreds of demonstrators ransacked the UN compound on Sunday, setting fire to parts of the buildings and throwing stones, reports say.

US and government troops helped staff to reach safety and tried to keep back the crowds with tear gas.

The compound houses offices of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Assistance Mission.

Witnesses reported bursts of gunfire as smoke from burning cars and other wreckage rose over the centre of Herat.

Two people are said to have been killed in protests overnight.

A doctor at Herat's central hospital said seven protesters' bodies had been brought in on Sunday, according to Reuters.

Portraits smashed

The inauguration ceremony for the man Mr Karzai has appointed as his new governor, Mohammed Khair Khuwa, was punctuated by the sound of gunfire outside, the BBC's Andrew North reports.

US helicopters patrolled the skies overhead, our correspondent says.

Mr Khan declined a low-profile ministerial post offered by the president after his dismissal on Saturday.

News of his sacking brought protesters into the streets, with demonstrators gathering in the city centre during the afternoon to chant "Death to Karzai, death to Americans". Afghan soldiers are said to have fired warning shots.

Eyewitnesses said framed pictures of President Karzai were smashed in the street.

In a separate clash, protesters pelted a US military vehicle with stones and troops also fired warning shots.

Ismail Khan's replacement is being seen as an attempt by Mr Karzai to strengthen his position ahead of the historic October elections.

Hundreds of Afghan government troops were flown to Herat in US aircraft to bolster security ahead of the announcement.

Weakened position

One of the best-known former mujahideen leaders, Mr Khan led an uprising there against Soviet troops in 1979.

After taking over as governor in 2001, he turned it into a kind of personal fiefdom, our correspondent says.

For the past few weeks, rumours had been growing that Mr Karzai was preparing to replace Mr Khan after his forces clashed with the fighters of another local militia commander, Amanullah.

Although Amanullah was placed under house arrest, Mr Khan was widely seen to have been weakened by the fighting in which he lost control of several areas of the province, our correspondent says.

The US welcomed Mr Karzai's decision to sack him, but also warned anyone involved against taking action which might threaten security in the region.

Source

[Talon]

Well its gotten so bad they've impossed a curfew

Curfew in protest-hit Afghan city

The authorities haveimposed a curfew on the Afghan city of Herat after protests over the sacking of former governor Ismail Khan.

Supporters of the sacked governor earlier set fire to local UN offices on the second day of unrest there.

Reports say at least seven people were killed on Sunday in clashes with US and Afghan government troops and police.

A governor backed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai has taken office in a ceremony in the western city.

Mr Khan had ruled Herat for decades and has resisted the president's authority.

Herat TV broadcast an official announcement from the city's army commander ordering a night curfew.

The commander banned all gatherings, but ordering all military servicemen and civil servants to work on Monday.

Mr Khan himself appealed to his supporters to stay calm.

"I hope with patience, tolerance and a single aim you ensure security, peace and stability of your country and be tolerant," said Khan in his statement.

"Reshuffling and changes in a government are a normal thing," said Khan.

UN compound attack

Hundreds of demonstrators ransacked the UN compound on Sunday, setting fire to parts of the buildings and throwing stones, reports say.

US and government troops helped staff to reach safety and tried to keep back the crowds with tear gas.

The compound houses offices of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Assistance Mission.

Witnesses reported bursts of gunfire as smoke from burning cars and other wreckage rose over the centre of Herat.

Two people are said to have been killed in protests overnight.

A doctor at Herat's central hospital said seven protesters' bodies had been brought in on Sunday, according to Reuters.

Portraits smashed

The inauguration ceremony for the man Mr Karzai has appointed as his new governor, Mohammed Khair Khuwa, was punctuated by the sound of gunfire outside, the BBC's Andrew North reports.

US helicopters patrolled the skies overhead, our correspondent says.

Mr Khan declined a low-profile ministerial post offered by the president after his dismissal on Saturday.

News of his sacking brought protesters into the streets, with demonstrators gathering in the city centre during the afternoon to chant "Death to Karzai, death to Americans". Afghan soldiers are said to have fired warning shots.

Eyewitnesses said framed pictures of President Karzai were smashed in the street.

In a separate clash, protesters pelted a US military vehicle with stones and troops also fired warning shots.

Ismail Khan's replacement is being seen as an attempt by Mr Karzai to strengthen his position ahead of the historic October elections.

Hundreds of Afghan government troops were flown to Herat in US aircraft to bolster security ahead of the announcement.

Weakened position

One of the best-known former mujahideen leaders, Mr Khan led an uprising there against Soviet troops in 1979.

After taking over as governor in 2001, he turned it into a kind of personal fiefdom, our correspondent says.

For the past few weeks, rumours had been growing that Mr Karzai was preparing to replace Mr Khan after his forces clashed with the fighters of another local militia commander, Amanullah.

Although Amanullah was placed under house arrest, Mr Khan was widely seen to have been weakened by the fighting in which he lost control of several areas of the province, our correspondent says.

The US welcomed Mr Karzai's decision to sack him, but also warned anyone involved against taking action which might threaten security in the region.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3650364.stm

[Talon]

Fragile calm in protest-hit Herat

An overnight curfew has helped restore calm in the Afghan city of Herat following violent clashes over the sacking of former governor Ismail Khan.

At least seven people were killed and the local UN offices set on fire when hundreds took to the streets in anger at the removal of the local ruler.

The UN has said it plans to withdraw most of its staff from the city.

A BBC correspondent in Herat says the tension remains and it is not entirely clear who is now in charge in the city.

UN staff had to be helped to safety by US and government troops after hundreds of demonstrators descended on their offices.

They ransacked the compound - which houses the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Assistance Mission - setting fire to parts of the buildings and throwing stones.

Troops tried to keep back the crowds with tear gas.

Witnesses reported bursts of gunfire as smoke from burning cars and other wreckage rose over the centre of Herat.

At least 60 people, including 15 US troops, were reportedly wounded.

Appeal

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan condemned the attack, adding that that the UN remained committed to providing humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Afghanistan.

He also called on all concerned, including Afghan and international security forces, to help create a safe environment for Afghanistan's election, due on 9 October.

Ismail Khan himself appealed to his supporters to stay calm.

"I hope with patience, tolerance and a single aim you ensure security, peace and stability of your country and be tolerant," he said.

"Reshuffling and changes in a government are a normal thing."

Herat TV broadcast an official announcement from the city's army commander ordering a night curfew.

The commander banned all gatherings, but ordering all military servicemen and civil servants to work on Monday.

'Power play'

It is not a good start for Afghan President Hamid Karzai's long-planned move to replace Ismail Khan as governor, says the BBC's Andrew North in Herat.

Despite bringing in large numbers of Afghan and US troops to bolster security ahead of the announcement, he was unable to stop supporters going on the rampage.

He was also forced to turn to the former instead of the new governor to appeal for calm, our correspondent adds.

Mr Khan, one of the best-known former mujahideen leaders, had ruled Herat for decades and has resisted the president's authority.

Mr Karzai's decision to replace him with Mohammed Khair Khuwa has been seen as an attempt to strengthen his position ahead of the historic October elections.

Protesters in Herat chanted "death to Karzai, death to Americans", and eyewitnesses said framed pictures of President Karzai were smashed in the street.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3650586.stm

[AztecInca]

Well things seem to be going well over in afghanistan dont they?!

The UN pulling out their staff is not a good sign at all, but in a region like that there will always be conflict and with america still over there conflicts are just everyday occurences. lets hope things improve quickly!

[Talon]

US 'kills 22' in Afghan firefight

US forces have killed 22 suspected Taleban and al-Qaeda militants in a gun battle in southern Afghanistan, the US military says.

American troops and helicopters fought the insurgents in the Shinkay district of Zabul province, late on Sunday.

"Twenty-two anti-coalition militias were killed - three of them were Arabs," US military spokesman Major Scott Nelson said in Kabul.

Zabul province is widely regarded as a Taleban stronghold.

'Skirmishes'

Major Nelson said three more suspected militants, including another Arab, had been captured in the latest fighting.

He said about 40 militants armed with AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades had attacked American troops on patrol.

"Our soldiers were out doing a cordon search when they were engaged by a large force of anti-coalition militias," Major Nelson said.

The troops called in two Apache helicopter gunships which fired on the insurgents.

"Skirmishes continued throughout the night," Major Nelson said.

He said there were no US casualties.

The US troops seized a global positioning system and a video camera and tapes.

The US-led coalition has about 18,000 troops hunting Taleban and al-Qaeda militants in southern and eastern Afghanistan.

The insurgents have vowed to disrupt the Afghan presidential elections on 9 October.

Zabul is considered a huge security risk for aid workers and coalition forces.

In May, four US soldiers were killed there by suspected Taleban militants, one of the biggest losses for American forces since they began operations in Afghanistan more than two years ago.

Since the May attack, there have been a number of raids on Afghan government targets.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/3651202.stm

[Talon]

New Afghan governor pledges order

The man chosen to replace Ismail Khan as governor of Herat has stressed the need for restoring order in the riot-torn western Afghan city.

Mohammed Khair Khuwa was to go on TV to tell local people his plans to improve security and human rights, and speed up reconstruction in the province.

Supporters of Ismail Khan, a legendary local strongman, rioted after President Hamid Karzai announced his replacement.

UN staff were evacuated from Herat after rioters attacked their offices.

The BBC's Andrew North, who visited Herat over the weekend, says the violence is not a good start for the new governor.

UN officials have a critical role in organising Afghanistan's presidential elections, due to take place next month, but are now unlikely to return to the city until order is restored.

Kabul offer

Our correspondent says Mr Khuwa's meeting with the press took place symbolically in a guest house once occupied by Ismail Khan.

The guest house, he says, also houses a US military command post - suggesting Mr Khuwa, a former diplomat, could have trouble demonstrating he was not installed and protected by US firepower.

At least seven people are reported to have died in a weekend of violence, triggered by President Karzai's decision to remove Mr Khan from Herat and offer him a minister's job in the capital, Kabul - an offer he refused.

At least 60 people, including 15 US troops, were reportedly wounded.

The new governor will have to contend with continued significant support for Mr Khan in the city, and the question of whether he will start disarming the militia force he controls, our correspondent adds.

Mr Khan, one of the best-known former mujahideen leaders, had ruled Herat for years and has resisted the president's authority.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3653516.stm

[Talon]

Three held after attack on Karzai

Afghan authorities have arrested three people following an attempt to shoot down President Hamid Karzai's helicopter on Thursday.

The three suspects were detained about 10km (six miles) from the scene of the attack near Gardez, in south-eastern Paktia province, officials said.

A rocket was fired but missed, causing no casualties.

President Karzai was making his first trip outside Kabul to support his bid for the presidency in 9 October polls.

Taleban fighters have vowed to disrupt the election process.

President Karzai immediately abandoned his trip.

Kandahar attack

Interior ministry spokesman Lutfullah Mashal said the men were detained in the centre of Gardez after they tried to escape on motorcycles.

Police also found detonators and explosives, Mr Mashal said.

"They admitted during questioning that they carried out the attack," he said.

"They had documents and tools related to the rocket attack and were arrested by police with the help of villagers."

Paktia governor Haji Assadullah Wafa said: "It's not written on their foreheads that they are [Taleban] but their beards and clothes are like [Taleban]."

The US military confirmed a rocket was fired at the president's helicopter as it tried to land.

"The rocket missed the helicopter and impacted approximately 300 metres away from a school near the landing zone," the US military said in a statement.

"The aircraft did not land and flew immediately back to Kabul. The president was not in any imminent danger."

The president was reportedly critical of the US military for not allowing him to continue to Gardez.

The attack was the most serious attempt on his life since an attack on his convoy in the southern city of Kandahar two years ago.

President Karzai has rarely been seen outside his heavily-fortified presidential compound since then.

The BBC's Andrew North in Kabul says that Paktia province has been an area of frequent attacks by suspected Taleban militants.

Critics say the president has little control of events beyond Kabul.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/3665158.stm