Afghan demonstrators attack UN compound

Demonstrators stormed a UN compound and stoned US soldiers in a tense west Afghan city, officials said today, a day after the government sacked its warlord governor.

Hundreds of people gathered in Heart outside the city headquarters of the United Nations chanting slogans against US troops and the government as protests broke out following the replacement of Governor Ismail Khan, witnesses said.

Demonstrators broke through the gate, throwing stones at vehicles and setting one alight, sending UN staff scuttling into their on-site bunker, UN spokesman Manoel de Almeida e Silva said.

There were no reports of injuries and American troops had arrived at the scene, he said. “Things are ongoing.”

Meanwhile, the US military reported that at least two people were injured late on Saturday in scuffles with security forces after two US soldiers got into trouble in the city, when a crowd bore down on their broken-down Humvee.

A passing patrol of some 25 troops from the Afghan National Army came to their aid.

“The ANA took control of the situation and one ANA soldier reportedly fired 40 to 50 warning shots,” a US military statement said.

“No one died in the incident, but two civilians were injured. One regrettably received a gunshot wound to his leg and another was hit by a motorcycle that was leaving the scene,” it said.

Both were reportedly taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Demonstrators took to the streets of Heart following Saturday’s announcement that Khan, considered one of the country’s most powerful warlords, was being replaced.

Officials say Khan, who commands a private army that he has been reluctant to disarm, accepted the decision but refused to take up a post in US-backed President Hamid Karzai’s cabinet in the capital.

More than 1,000 members of the new, US-trained national army and German-trained national police have been deployed to Heart province since fighting in August between Khan and rival warlords left dozens dead.

Several dozen American troops are based in Herat on a mission to promote stability and reconstruction. US trainers are also accompanying the ANA units deployed to the area.