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| Taliban kill 17 civilians 'in argument over women' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Taliban have killed 17 civilians – reportedly by cutting their throats – in a remote and violent corner of Afghanistan's Helmand province that government officials admitted is entirely beyond their control. | The Taliban have killed 17 civilians – reportedly by cutting their throats – in a remote and violent corner of Afghanistan's Helmand province that government officials admitted is entirely beyond their control. |
| The reason for the slaughter was variously given as a fight between two Taliban commanders over women, Taliban anger over a music and dance party, or an insurgent crackdown on suspected government informers. | The reason for the slaughter was variously given as a fight between two Taliban commanders over women, Taliban anger over a music and dance party, or an insurgent crackdown on suspected government informers. |
| The group, which included two women, were killed early on Sunday afternoon but news of their deaths only reached government-held areas on Monday. | The group, which included two women, were killed early on Sunday afternoon but news of their deaths only reached government-held areas on Monday. |
| "This happened in a desert area, known as Roshanabad, which is not under the control of the government," said the Kajaki district governor, Mullah Sharafuddin, who said he did not know the motive behind the bloody attack. "I am the governor but I don't have full details because this land is under Taliban control." | "This happened in a desert area, known as Roshanabad, which is not under the control of the government," said the Kajaki district governor, Mullah Sharafuddin, who said he did not know the motive behind the bloody attack. "I am the governor but I don't have full details because this land is under Taliban control." |
| The Helmand police commander was told the 17 victims were targeted as government spies, said spokesman Farid Ahmad Farhang, who also acknowledged the area was in insurgent hands. | The Helmand police commander was told the 17 victims were targeted as government spies, said spokesman Farid Ahmad Farhang, who also acknowledged the area was in insurgent hands. |
| The provincial governor's spokesman said the dead were probably caught up in a fight between two rival Taliban commanders for control of the dead women. | The provincial governor's spokesman said the dead were probably caught up in a fight between two rival Taliban commanders for control of the dead women. |
| "There are two Taliban commanders, Mullah Wali Mohammad and Mullah Sayed Gul, that control the area near Kajaki, but they argued about the two women," said spokesman Daoud Ahmadi. "We don't know exactly what the differences are, but the killing was because of the difference between the two commanders over these women," Ahmadi said. "Their throats were slit but their heads were not completely cut off," he added. | "There are two Taliban commanders, Mullah Wali Mohammad and Mullah Sayed Gul, that control the area near Kajaki, but they argued about the two women," said spokesman Daoud Ahmadi. "We don't know exactly what the differences are, but the killing was because of the difference between the two commanders over these women," Ahmadi said. "Their throats were slit but their heads were not completely cut off," he added. |
| Earlier reports had said the group found dead in Helmand were beheaded because they attended a party that insurgents considered immoral. "The victims threw a late-night dance and music party when the Taliban attacked," the Reuters news agency quoted the governor of nearby Musa Qala district, Nimatullah, saying. | Earlier reports had said the group found dead in Helmand were beheaded because they attended a party that insurgents considered immoral. "The victims threw a late-night dance and music party when the Taliban attacked," the Reuters news agency quoted the governor of nearby Musa Qala district, Nimatullah, saying. |
| The Taliban could not be reached for comment, but there is a precedent for killings of civilians in quarrels driven by passion and jealousy in Afghanistan. | The Taliban could not be reached for comment, but there is a precedent for killings of civilians in quarrels driven by passion and jealousy in Afghanistan. |
| On New Year's Day in 2010, six civilians were beheaded in neighbouring Uruzgan province, killings that were initially reported as a Taliban attack on alleged government spies. It later emerged they were the result of two groups fighting over a boy. | On New Year's Day in 2010, six civilians were beheaded in neighbouring Uruzgan province, killings that were initially reported as a Taliban attack on alleged government spies. It later emerged they were the result of two groups fighting over a boy. |
| Earlier this summer a woman was stoned to death in Parwan province, just a couple of hours' drive from Kabul. The killing was initially widely condemned as a Taliban punishment for adultery, but Parwan's governor later said she was involved with a commander who killed her to avoid losing face as news spread of his behaviour. | Earlier this summer a woman was stoned to death in Parwan province, just a couple of hours' drive from Kabul. The killing was initially widely condemned as a Taliban punishment for adultery, but Parwan's governor later said she was involved with a commander who killed her to avoid losing face as news spread of his behaviour. |
| The 17 killings on Sunday were the start of a bloody 24 hours in which 10 Afghan soldiers were killed in a nearby district by a Taliban assault, and Afghan army soldiers shot dead two Nato troops in the east. | The 17 killings on Sunday were the start of a bloody 24 hours in which 10 Afghan soldiers were killed in a nearby district by a Taliban assault, and Afghan army soldiers shot dead two Nato troops in the east. |
| The Afghan soldiers died in an attack on a checkpoint in a violent part of Washir district; 11 Taliban were also killed and some soldiers fled the onslaught but the government has held the checkpoint. | The Afghan soldiers died in an attack on a checkpoint in a violent part of Washir district; 11 Taliban were also killed and some soldiers fled the onslaught but the government has held the checkpoint. |
| "Two weeks ago the Taliban attacked the same checkpost, five soldiers were killed but they didn't manage to take the checkpost," said Ahmadi, the governor's spokesman. "Last night it was similar, although 10 soldiers were killed, but the Taliban couldn't take control." | "Two weeks ago the Taliban attacked the same checkpost, five soldiers were killed but they didn't manage to take the checkpost," said Ahmadi, the governor's spokesman. "Last night it was similar, although 10 soldiers were killed, but the Taliban couldn't take control." |
| The two foreign troops were killed during an operation in eastern Laghman province, where there are no Nato bases because security control has been handed over to Afghans. The shooting brings the number of foreign troops who have died at the hands of their Afghan allies this month to 12. | The two foreign troops were killed during an operation in eastern Laghman province, where there are no Nato bases because security control has been handed over to Afghans. The shooting brings the number of foreign troops who have died at the hands of their Afghan allies this month to 12. |
| Mokhtar Amiri contributed reporting | Mokhtar Amiri contributed reporting |