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Monday, October 26, 2009

Afghans condemn 'Quran-burning'



Afghan police have fired into the air to break up a protest in Kabul by thousands of people who are condemning an alleged desecration of a copy of the Quran by foreign soldiers. Protesters, claiming foreign forces had burned a copy of Islam's holiest book during a raid in Maidan Wardak province last week, blocked traffic in the Afghan capital for more than an hour on Sunday. A spokeswoman for US and Nato-led forces in Afghanistan said none of their troops were involved in the incident and blamed the Taliban for spreading a false rumour that a copy of the Quran had been burned. More than 100,000 foreign troops are battling a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, where violence this year reached its highest level since the group was ousted by US-backed Afghan forces in 2001. Thick plumes of smoke rose above the crowd as protesters set fire to a large effigy of what they said was Barack Obama, the US president. "Death to America. Down with Israel," chanted one man at the rally, which was organised mainly by university students. Others threw stones and clashed with police but no casualties were reported. One banner carried by protesters said: "No to democracy. We just want Islam." Captain Elizabeth Mathias, a media officer for US and Nato-led forces in Afghanistan, said the Taliban was trying to undermine foreign troops by spreading the rumour. "We did not burn a Quran ... It is unfortunate that the protesters believe a Taliban rumour," Mathias said, adding an investigation had been carried out. The Taliban could not be reached immediately for comment.

US soldiers die in Afghan crash



Four US soldiers have been killed and two others injured when two helicopters collided in southern Afghanistan. Hostile fire has been ruled out in the crash on Monday, a military statement said. In an unrelated incident, another helicopter went down on the same day during an operation by international forces against fighters in western Afghanistan which left a dozen dead. The US reported military casualties in the incident but did not specify whether they were dead or injured. So far in October, more than 30 US soldiers have died. The deaths come as the US debates whether to send thousands more troops to the country and the Afghan government prepares for a runoff election between Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, and his main challenger following an August vote that was discredited due to alleged widespread ballot-rigging.

Ten killed as militants battle security in Hangu


At least ten militants were killed in a clash with security forces in Hangu. According to sources, militants tried to enter the settled areas of Tora Wari and were stopped at a checkpoint by security officials.  Militants opened fire, and in the ensuing violence, ten of them were killed on the spot.  Security personnel also used artillery gunfire and targeted the hideouts of militants in the area. Artillery gunfire continued for several hours.

Baghdad car bombs near government offices kill 136



Two suicide car bombs exploded in downtown Baghdad Sunday, killing at least 136 people and delivering a powerful blow to the heart of the fragile city's government in the worst attack of the year, officials said. While violence has dropped dramatically in the country since the height of the sectarian tensions, such bombings like Sunday's demonstrate the precarious nature of the security gains and the insurgency's abilities to still pull off devastating attacks in the center of what is supposed to be one of Baghdad's most secure areas. Black smoke could be seen billowing from the frantic scene, as emergency service vehicles sped to the area. Even civilian cars were being commandeered to transport the wounded to hospitals. The car bombs, which targeted the Justice Ministry and the Baghdad provincial administration, come as Iraq is preparing for elections scheduled this January, and many Iraqi officials have warned that violence by insurgents’ intent destabilizing the country could rise. There have been no claims of responsibility so far, but massive car bombs have been the hallmark of the Sunni insurgents seeking to overthrow the country's Shiite-dominated government. At least 25 staff members of the Baghdad Provincial Council, which runs the city, were killed in the bombing, said council member Mohammed al-Rubaiey. The area where the blasts occurred is just a few hundred yards from the Green Zone that houses the U.S. Embassy as well as the prime minister's offices. The street where the blasts occurred had just been reopened to vehicle traffic a few months ago, in what was supposed to be a sign that safety was returning to the once devastated city.