U.S. Troops Fire on Afghan Bus, Killing Civilians

[Ichingcarpenter]

Source: NY Times

KABUL, Afghanistan — American troops raked a large passenger bus with gunfire near Kandahar city on Monday morning, killing at least five civilians and wounding 18, Afghan authorities and survivors said. The attack infuriated Kandahar leaders and could harm public opinion on the eve of the most important offensive of the war, which is intended to take control of the Kandahar region from the Taliban this summer.

Hundreds of demonstrators poured into the area around a bus station on the western outskirts of Kandahar city, shouting anti-American chants and blocking the road for one hour, according to people in the area.

The bus driver and one of the passengers said that an American convoy 60 to 70 yards ahead of the bus opened fire as the bus began to pull to the side of the road to allow another military convoy traveling behind to pass. the two convoys and the bus were on the main highway in Sanzari, about 15 miles, or 24 kilometers, west of Kandahar city. All of the windows on one side of the bus were shot out.

Troops opened fire on the bus just after daybreak as it was taking scores of passengers to Nimroz province, said Zalmy Ayoubi, a spokesman for the Kandahar provincial governor.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/world/asia/13afghan.html?partner=rss&emc=rss