Afghan army patrols Kabul amid anger with US troops

KABUL - Afghan troops patrolled the streets of Kabul and the capital was put under curfew for a second night today after at least seven people were killed in the worst anti-US riots since the 2001 fall of the Taleban.

In northern Afghanistan, Taleban gunmen shot dead three Afghan women working for a Western aid agency, while a roadside bomb killed two Afghans employed by a US firm, officials said.

While the heavy security presence restored order on Kabul's streets, anger burned among many Afghans over the behaviour of US troops when a fatal road accident involving a US army truck sparked unrest in many parts of the city.

"They worry about their own safety. They only care about themselves," said Abdul Karim, a 28-year-old resident of the city, who nevertheless blamed criminals for turning protests into riots in order to go on a crime spree.

There is widespread disillusion among people that billions of dollars in aid from the international community have failed to substantially improve living standards in Afghanistan.

At the same time, the Taleban insurgency in the south and east is going through its bloodiest phase, with more than 350 people killed, including civilians, in the last few weeks alone.

Nato's top general in Europe said the alliance-led peacekeeping force now had the strength it needed.

"From my standpoint, the mission as it is currently sourced is adequate," General James Jones told a meeting of Nato's parliamentary assembly in Paris.

Nato last month backed a plan to increase foreign troop numbers in Afghanistan to around 32,500 by August, the highest level since US-led forces overthrew the Taleban.

Yesterday's unrest was triggered by a US soldier who lost control of his truck and smashed into a dozen vehicles, killing at least five Afghans.

Furious residents stoned the convoy the truck was travelling in, prompting at least one of the US vehicles to fire warning shots in the air, according to the US military. The situation deteriorated further when police opened fire to help the convoy.

"It was all the Americans' fault," said Tahir Murad, 50, who witnessed the accident and its aftermath. "This kind of incident makes people feel more against the Americans." Police Chief Jamil Junbish said seven people, including one police officer, were killed and 138 injured in the disturbances. A health ministry official had earlier said eight people died. The Interior Ministry said 140 people were arrested.

Junbish also announced that a night-time curfew would remain in place in Kabul for "a short time".

US Ambassador Ronald Neumann issued a statement regretting the loss of life and blaming the crash on brake failure.

Today there were two Afghan army tanks on the road leading to Kabul's centre from the site of the incident on the northern outskirts. "It is peaceful, there is no violence," said Mohammad Shafiq Fazli, Kabul's deputy police chief.

By mid-morning, the city was bustling with people, and cars jammed the roads as usual, though residents had initially appeared cautious about venturing out.

Three women from the international Action Aid charity were killed when a car they were travelling in was attacked to the northeast of Shiberghan, capital of Jowzjan province, by militants on motorbikes. Their driver was also killed.

Separately, two Afghans working for a Washington-based firm, Planning and Development Collaborative International (Padco), were killed when their car struck a roadside bomb in the northeastern province of Badakhshan, the a US embassy said.

Two Americans were slightly wounded.

President Karzai won polls in 2004, but has been unable to shake off the perception he owes his position to US support.

Karzai's critics call him the "mayor of Kabul", because of instability in the rural provinces, but Monday's unrest showed the fragility of the situation in the capital, where people are frustrated by a lack of improvement in their daily lives.

- REUTERS