Afghan protest claims 13 lives

29/05/2007| IslamWeb

Thirteen people were killed and 35 wounded in Afghanistan yesterday when police opened fire to break up a violent protest against a provincial governor, witnesses said.

More than 1,000 people were protesting to demand the removal of Juma Khan Hamdard, governor of the northern province of Jowzjan, and were throwing stones at several government offices in Shiberghan, the provincial capital, witnesses said.

Police fired to stop the protesters from raiding the offices, the witnesses said. A provincial government spokesman said the protesters were supporters of General Abdul Rashid Dostum, for years a powerful military commander in the Afghan north.

"We've got 13 dead and 35 wounded," said Naqibullah, a doctor at Shiberghan's main hospital, adding some of the wounded were in critical condition. Four police were also wounded.

Provincial spokesman Rohullah Samun, confirmed the casualties but said they were caused by the protesters. He said police fired into the air to disperse the protesters.

He said the protesters had staged an "uprising against the provincial government" and wanted to bring down the government flag and install that of Dostum's faction.

"They were militias of Dostum," he said.

By midday, the protests came to an end and by then army troops were stationed in key government buildings to maintain order and help police.

The troops were sent in at the request of provincial officials, the defence ministry said in a statement.

Facing a resurgent Taliban, President Hamid Karzai condemned the violence during the protest and ordered an immediate investigation.

The palace quoted Karzai as saying that peaceful protest was the right of every Afghan, but added that it should not involve violence.

The palace said some public and governmental utilities were damaged during the protests.

PHOTO CAPTION

A wounded man stands in a hospital after a protest in Shiberghan capital of the northern province of Jowzjan May 28, 2007. (Reuters)