Sunday, September 12, 2004

Afghanistan

Demonstrators stormed U.N. compounds and stoned U.S. soldiers in a tense western Afghan city, officials said Sunday, a day after the government sacked its warlord governor.

About a dozen people were reported injured -- most with bullet wounds -- as security forces tried to keep order in Herat following the replacement of Gov. Ismail Khan. The office of one international aid group was also ransacked.

The violence was a challenge to U.S.-backed interim leader Hamid Karzai, who ordered Khan's removal and has sent more than 1,000 Western-trained national army soldiers and police to Herat ahead of Oct. 9 presidential elections.

Karzai condemned the rioters, saying they were damaging Afghanistan's fragile peace process.

"That's not what this country wants, and that's not what the people of Herat want," Karzai told reporters in the capital, 360 miles to the east. "We will deal with that strongly."
  NY Times article

Well, apparently that's what some of the people want.

...Hundreds of people gathered outside the city headquarters of the United Nations chanting slogans against U.S. troops and the government, witnesses said.

...The U.S. military had no comment on the incidents, which occurred as Khan's replacement, the former Afghan ambassador to Ukraine, arrived at Herat airport.

Maybe they aren't anxious to have more U.S. puppet leadership.

Several dozen American troops are based in Herat on a mission to promote stability and reconstruction. U.S. trainers are also accompanying the Afghan army units deployed to the area.


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