Army, police clash in Afghanistan

[dArKeR]

Kandahar, Afghanistan - A pitched battle between Afghan soldiers and police in southern Helmand province left two military commanders and as many as eight policemen dead, officials said on Saturday.

There were also reports that nine civilians were killed in the fighting.

Deputy provincial governor Haji Pir Mohammed said during the five-hour battle between the two groups on Friday, dozens of men fired rockets and heavy weapons in a residential area of Geriesh district, 150 kilometres west of Kandahar.

It was not immediately clear why the Afghan soldiers and police - both loyal to President Hamid Karzai's government - clashed nor who initiated fire.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1439157,00.html

[RamboLiberal]

1. While we're not looking Afghanistan has gone to hell

Another Bushie project left undone.

[Copperred]

2. SAVE AFGHANISTAN!!!!! JOIN AAC

PLEASE JOIN

AMERICAN AFGHAN COMMITTEE

www.american-afghan.com

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Afghanistan has been left behind and forgotten

Not even mentioned by Bush anymore. This great example of nation building to create a democratic country and free citizens abroad is just one more failure of US policy. That place will soon desolve into chaos. Karzai had better watch his ass and bolster his Dynacorp rent-a-body-guard army, else be hung from a tree outside his palace.

[KeepItReal]

4. Fighting to see who's more "loyal to President Hamid Karzai's govt."?

Don't know what set these guys off towards each other, but if they took that fight to the Taliban and Al Qaeda-types regrouping out there, that would be nice.

[Barrett808]

5. 40 Afghans die in clashes

KABUL, Nov 1: Some 40 people were killed when Afghan police and a former military commander and his fighters fought a fierce battle in southwestern Helmand province , the Bakhtar news agency reported on Saturday.

The clash erupted on Friday afternoon in Gereshek district when police stopped a convoy of vehicles belonging to ex-military commander Haji Idrees for a routine check and the commander resisted.

Bakhtar said Idrees and his deputy were among those killed in the fighting, as well as three women and 12 other civilians caught in the crossfire.

Earlier the AIP said the fighting involved two pro-government militia groups and put the death toll at 25.

Bakhtar said several shops were damaged and many civilians were also injured.

AIP said an Afghan traveller, who arrived in Quetta told the news agency he had heard that 45 people might have been killed in the fighting.

The agency quoted local sources as saying that US troops were seen heading towards the troubled area, but no other details were available.

The incident reflected the poor security situation especially in the south and southeastern parts of Afghanistan amid increasing rebel attacks and clashes attributed to local warlord rivalries.

REBELS' CONTROL: Rebels on Saturday seized control of a district headquarters in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, looted government arms and set fire to the building before fleeing, AIP said in Islamabad.

The attackers occupied Watapur district headquarters, some 35 kilometers northeast of provincial capital Asadabad, for two hours but did not kill or hurt any official, the Pakistan based agency said.

They however warned the local administration officials to leave the area and never come back, AIP said, quoting local sources.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Watapur.-Agencies

http://www.dawn.com/2003/11/02/top14.htm