Warlords call ceasefire in battle for Afghan town

Calm has returned to the town of Gardez in southern Afghanistan today following two days of fighting between the town’s governing council and a warlord loyal to the UN-installed interim administration.

The battle apparently began when Bacha Khan, a royalist warlord, entered Gardez and raised the flag of former king Zahir Shah above the Governor’s residence. The Gardez tribal council, which is led by former Taliban supporter Haji Saifullah, objected to the move and a fierce fight erupted, with Khan’s forces pounding the town from three sides.