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Afghan police officer sought over Kabul Nato killings Afghan police officer sought over Kabul Nato killings
(40 minutes later)
Afghanistan's interior ministry has said one of its own employees is suspected of the killing of two senior US Nato officers inside the ministry.Afghanistan's interior ministry has said one of its own employees is suspected of the killing of two senior US Nato officers inside the ministry.
Officials earlier named police intelligence officer Abdul Saboor from Parwan province as the main suspect behind Saturday's attack.Officials earlier named police intelligence officer Abdul Saboor from Parwan province as the main suspect behind Saturday's attack.
Nato withdrew all its personnel from Afghan ministries after the shooting.Nato withdrew all its personnel from Afghan ministries after the shooting.
The crisis comes amid deadly protests in the country over the burnings of copies of the Koran by US soldiers.The crisis comes amid deadly protests in the country over the burnings of copies of the Koran by US soldiers.
At least 29 people, including another two US soldiers, have been killed in the past five days, and further violence was reported on Sunday. More than 30 people, including another two US soldiers, have been killed in the past five days, and further violence broke out on Sunday despite an appeal for calm from Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
A grenade was thrown into a Nato base in northern Kunduz province during a protest, killing a US soldier, Afghan officials said. The protests had proved that Afghans were prepared to die for their religion, the president said, adding that they could not allow "enemies of peace" to misuse the strong sentiment.
Nato said there was an explosion outside one of its bases, and that more information would be released "as appropriate." Police station attack
Some 4,000 people took to the streets in Aybal, northern Samangan province, attacking a police station and a US base. A grenade was thrown into a Nato base in northern Kunduz province during a protest on Sunday. Nato said none of its personnel had been killed, but unconfirmed reports quoting Afghan officials suggested seven US personnel had been wounded.
Provincial governor Khairullah Anooash told the BBC several protesters had been hurt, one critically. Other officials said one person had died.
At a news conference in Kabul earlier on Sunday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai appealed for calm.
He said the protests had proved that Afghans were prepared to die for their religion but that they could not allow "enemies of peace" to misuse the strong sentiment.
The suspect, if guilty, would have been the ideal assassin. He was above suspicion and a trusted insider. He worked in the interior ministry, had access to top security intelligence briefings and also has a walkie-talkie on a secure channel. He would have known the most sensitive information that was passing through the ministry. According to officials, he even knew those who were killed on Saturday.The suspect, if guilty, would have been the ideal assassin. He was above suspicion and a trusted insider. He worked in the interior ministry, had access to top security intelligence briefings and also has a walkie-talkie on a secure channel. He would have known the most sensitive information that was passing through the ministry. According to officials, he even knew those who were killed on Saturday.
President Karzai said he was going to discuss the issue with US President Barack Obama and also called for the American soldiers who burned the Koran to be punished, but did not say what that punishment would be.President Karzai said he was going to discuss the issue with US President Barack Obama and also called for the American soldiers who burned the Koran to be punished, but did not say what that punishment would be.
It is only today that President Karzai has come out publicly and called for calm. Many feel he should have done days ago. We now wait to see whether it has had an impact. But the critical damage done by yesterday's killings remain - the Nato military advisers are out of all the government ministries where they had been trying to assist and train Afghan officials. We're not sure how long that will continue.It is only today that President Karzai has come out publicly and called for calm. Many feel he should have done days ago. We now wait to see whether it has had an impact. But the critical damage done by yesterday's killings remain - the Nato military advisers are out of all the government ministries where they had been trying to assist and train Afghan officials. We're not sure how long that will continue.
He also condemned the killings of the two US officers but said it was still not clear who was responsible. At least one demonstrator was killed and others wounded in the Iman Sahib district of Kunduz, as protesters tried to enter the main city, reports quoting Afghan officials said.
Some 4,000 people took to the streets in Aybal, northern Samangan province, attacking a police station and a US base.
Provincial governor Khairullah Anooash told the BBC several protesters had been hurt, one critically. Other officials said one person had died.
Security clearanceSecurity clearance
The identities of the dead Nato officers have not been confirmed, but they are believed to have been an American colonel and major.The identities of the dead Nato officers have not been confirmed, but they are believed to have been an American colonel and major.
Reports said the gunman opened fire in a secure room in the ministry - one of the highest security buildings in the capital - at close range.Reports said the gunman opened fire in a secure room in the ministry - one of the highest security buildings in the capital - at close range.
Nato spokesman Brig Gen Carsten Jacobsen said it was "concerning" that no clear picture had emerged of what happened.Nato spokesman Brig Gen Carsten Jacobsen said it was "concerning" that no clear picture had emerged of what happened.
"The interest is as big on the side of the Afghans in the Ministry of the Interior as it is on our side to quickly find out the real circumstances behind this incident," he said."The interest is as big on the side of the Afghans in the Ministry of the Interior as it is on our side to quickly find out the real circumstances behind this incident," he said.
In a statement, the interior ministry said: "An employee has been identified as a suspect and he has now fled. The interior ministry is trying to arrest the suspected individual."In a statement, the interior ministry said: "An employee has been identified as a suspect and he has now fled. The interior ministry is trying to arrest the suspected individual."
The ministry did not give a name, but other officials said Mr Saboor, 25, was being sought.The ministry did not give a name, but other officials said Mr Saboor, 25, was being sought.
He had served in several Afghan ministries and had worked at the interior ministry for some time, with responsibilities for security arrangements and access to top level intelligence briefings and secure radio communication channels.He had served in several Afghan ministries and had worked at the interior ministry for some time, with responsibilities for security arrangements and access to top level intelligence briefings and secure radio communication channels.
His family home in the Salang valley area of Parwan province, north-east Afghanistan, was raided overnight and his relatives in Kabul detained, said officials.His family home in the Salang valley area of Parwan province, north-east Afghanistan, was raided overnight and his relatives in Kabul detained, said officials.
"The fact that he is missing and we assume he fled, makes Abdul Saboor the main suspect for us in this case," said senior interior ministry officials."The fact that he is missing and we assume he fled, makes Abdul Saboor the main suspect for us in this case," said senior interior ministry officials.
One senior Afghan general told the BBC: ''The virus of infiltration has spread like a cancer and it needs an operation. Curing it has not helped."One senior Afghan general told the BBC: ''The virus of infiltration has spread like a cancer and it needs an operation. Curing it has not helped."
Nato's commander in Afghanistan Gen John Allen said the attack had been carried out by "a coward whose actions will not go unanswered".Nato's commander in Afghanistan Gen John Allen said the attack had been carried out by "a coward whose actions will not go unanswered".
He said that for "obvious force protection reasons" all International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) personnel were being withdrawn from ministries in and around Kabul.He said that for "obvious force protection reasons" all International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) personnel were being withdrawn from ministries in and around Kabul.
The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says the withdrawal will paralyse important areas, such as technical support, intelligence sharing and many ongoing security operations.The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says the withdrawal will paralyse important areas, such as technical support, intelligence sharing and many ongoing security operations.
It disconnects the co-ordination of the Afghan government with Isaf, says our correspondent, and could not have come at a worse time, with attacks taking place on police and army positions across several provinces.It disconnects the co-ordination of the Afghan government with Isaf, says our correspondent, and could not have come at a worse time, with attacks taking place on police and army positions across several provinces.
At least 29 people, including two US soldiers, have died across the country in protest over the Koran burning.At least 29 people, including two US soldiers, have died across the country in protest over the Koran burning.
US personnel apparently inadvertently put the books, which reports say had been confiscated from terror suspects, into a rubbish incinerator at Bagram air base, near Kabul.US personnel apparently inadvertently put the books, which reports say had been confiscated from terror suspects, into a rubbish incinerator at Bagram air base, near Kabul.
Muslims consider the Koran the literal word of God and treat each book with deep reverence.Muslims consider the Koran the literal word of God and treat each book with deep reverence.
US President Barack Obama has apologised to Mr Karzai for the incident, saying the religious material had been "inadvertently mishandled".US President Barack Obama has apologised to Mr Karzai for the incident, saying the religious material had been "inadvertently mishandled".
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story ascribed to Nato spokesman Brig Gen Carsten Jacobsen comments suggesting that after Saturday's shooting, people would have to be "looking over their shoulders" in Afghan ministries. This was an editing error which mistakenly introduced material from another source.CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story ascribed to Nato spokesman Brig Gen Carsten Jacobsen comments suggesting that after Saturday's shooting, people would have to be "looking over their shoulders" in Afghan ministries. This was an editing error which mistakenly introduced material from another source.