Fear of gas attacks keeps Afghan girls from school

[Coventina]

Source: Associated Press

MUHMUD RAQI, Afghanistan (AP) — Only a few dozen of about 570 female students attended class in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday after an apparent attack with poison gas sickened more than 80 girls this week.

It was the third apparent poisoning at a girls school in about two weeks. No one has claimed responsibility for the poisonings, but Education Ministry officials say they believe it is a series of poison gas attacks by militants who want to keep girls home from school.

(snip)

All the incidents took place in a region a few hours northeast of Kabul, which is not as opposed to education for girls as Afghanistan's conservative southern regions.

Many students who did return to the Aftabachi school in Kapisa province Thursday said they were frightened. Between 22 and 25 girls of all ages huddled in one room as a teacher tried to give a lesson. Police were patrolling outside.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gQE_N0r1XomQlXbpcUFNoe9e6fWgD985VHQO0

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Mission accomplished. nt

[uppityperson]

2. k&r