One killed as Afghans riot over cartoons

Thousands of rioters clashed with police and Nato peacekeepers across Afghanistan today in demonstrations against the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. One person was killed and an unknown number were injured.

Norwegian troops fired on hundreds of protesters outside their base in Maymana, a city in the north-west, after the demonstrators shot at them and threw grenades, said provincial Gov. Mohammed Latif.

One of the demonstrators was shot dead while two others were wounded, he said.

A spokeswoman for Nato’s peacekeeping force, Squadron Leader Annie Gibson-Sexton, said troops used tear gas against the protesters, but could not confirm shots had been fired.

She said there were no reports of injuries among the Norwegian troops.