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Sunday, February 26, 2012

Desecration of holy Quran

Two US officers shot dead as Afghanistan boils

* Violent protests over desecration continue for fifth day g Four more protesters killed
* Taliban say Americans killed in revenge for desecration

KABUL: Two Americans, believed to be a US colonel and major, were shot dead in Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry on Saturday, security sources said, while rage gripped the country for a fifth day over the burning of the holy Quran at a NATO base.
A spokeswoman for NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed two of their servicemen had been shot dead in Kabul by an individual who turned his weapon on them. She declined to say if the killer was a member of the Afghan military or police.
Taliban movement claimed responsibility for the shootings, which they said were in retaliation for the desecration of the copies of holy Quran at Bagram airfield.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in an e-mailed statement to the media that four high-ranking Americans had been killed.
An Afghan security source said the shooting of the two Americans in the Interior Ministry could be connected to the burning of the holy Quran.
NATO pulled its staff out of Afghan government ministries after the killings within the Interior Ministry, the force commander said.
“For obvious force protection reasons, I have... taken immediate measures to recall all other ISAF personnel working in ministries in and around Kabul,” said General John Allen, commander of ISAF. “I condemn today’s attack at the Afghan Ministry of Interior that killed two of our coalition officers, and my thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the brave individuals lost today,” Allen said in a statement. The British embassy in Kabul also temporarily withdrew all civilian mentors and advisers from Afghan government institutions in Kabul, the Foreign Office said.
“As a temporary measure, the British embassy has withdrawn civilian mentors and advisors from institutions within Kabul,” a Foreign Office spokeswoman said.
Separately, four Afghans were shot dead by Afghan security forces as demonstrators came out to the streets on Saturday, with an attempt by protesters to bombard a UN compound in the north.
Hundreds of people tried to overrun a compound in the northern Kunduz province housing workers from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), but were held back by police, Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said. agencies

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

 

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