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Afghanistan: 'Three hurt' in new anti-Nato protest | Afghanistan: 'Three hurt' in new anti-Nato protest |
(40 minutes later) | |
At least three people have been injured in new protests in northern Afghanistan against Nato raids, reports say. | At least three people have been injured in new protests in northern Afghanistan against Nato raids, reports say. |
The nature of their injuries is unclear. Reports say police opened fire with water cannon and fired in the air. | The nature of their injuries is unclear. Reports say police opened fire with water cannon and fired in the air. |
On Wednesday at least 12 people were shot dead in Taloqan during protests against a Nato-led night raid near the city in which four people were killed. | On Wednesday at least 12 people were shot dead in Taloqan during protests against a Nato-led night raid near the city in which four people were killed. |
Nato said all four were insurgents, but locals insist they were civilians. Nato night raids have angered many Afghans. | Nato said all four were insurgents, but locals insist they were civilians. Nato night raids have angered many Afghans. |
The demonstrations in normally peaceful Takhar province erupted hours after news emerged of the deadly raid on Tuesday night. | The demonstrations in normally peaceful Takhar province erupted hours after news emerged of the deadly raid on Tuesday night. |
'Agitators' | |
About 2,000 protesters looted shops and tried to attack a German army base before order was restored on Wednesday. | About 2,000 protesters looted shops and tried to attack a German army base before order was restored on Wednesday. |
As well as those killed, at least 80 people were injured in the clashes with security forces. | As well as those killed, at least 80 people were injured in the clashes with security forces. |
Thursday's smaller protest saw the police chief's compound attacked. Two rooms were set alight, reports said. | Thursday's smaller protest saw the police chief's compound attacked. Two rooms were set alight, reports said. |
"Three of the demonstrators were injured and taken to the hospital and the fire was put out," a provincial government spokesman Fayez Mohammad Tawhidi told AFP news agency. | "Three of the demonstrators were injured and taken to the hospital and the fire was put out," a provincial government spokesman Fayez Mohammad Tawhidi told AFP news agency. |
The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says hundreds of shops in Taloqan are closed and the situation is now calm. | |
A senior official told the BBC that elite troop reinforcements were guarding key installations and controlling the city's entry and exit points. | A senior official told the BBC that elite troop reinforcements were guarding key installations and controlling the city's entry and exit points. |
At least 40 arrests have been made in connection with the protests, officials say. | At least 40 arrests have been made in connection with the protests, officials say. |
"They were mostly agitators who wanted to take advantage of the situation," a security official told the BBC. | "They were mostly agitators who wanted to take advantage of the situation," a security official told the BBC. |
Our correspondent says Takhar, which borders the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan, falls on a route notorious for drug smuggling. | |
The province's remote and inaccessible areas are considered perfect hiding places by drug dealers and insurgents. | |
Intelligence officials say the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which has close links with the Taliban, has become active in Takhar in recent years. Taliban and al-Qaeda activists are known to operate in neighbouring Kunduz province. | |
'Irresponsible' | |
President Hamid Karzai has condemned Tuesday night's raid on the outskirts of Taloqan, saying the Afghan government had repeatedly warned Nato "about such irresponsible operations". | President Hamid Karzai has condemned Tuesday night's raid on the outskirts of Taloqan, saying the Afghan government had repeatedly warned Nato "about such irresponsible operations". |
He has asked Nato to explain the "exact circumstances of the incident". | He has asked Nato to explain the "exact circumstances of the incident". |
The Afghan authorities say the raid was conducted unilaterally by Nato. | The Afghan authorities say the raid was conducted unilaterally by Nato. |
But the alliance says it was a joint operation with Afghan forces and that the Takhar provincial governor was told about it before it took place. | But the alliance says it was a joint operation with Afghan forces and that the Takhar provincial governor was told about it before it took place. |
The Nato-led mission says that two women and two men were killed. | The Nato-led mission says that two women and two men were killed. |
It said that the women were armed, one with an assault rifle, the other with a pistol. | It said that the women were armed, one with an assault rifle, the other with a pistol. |
Female insurgents are rare, but not unheard of in Afghanistan. | Female insurgents are rare, but not unheard of in Afghanistan. |
BBC correspondents say that night raids are deeply unpopular, but have been effective at finding and killing insurgent commanders. | BBC correspondents say that night raids are deeply unpopular, but have been effective at finding and killing insurgent commanders. |