Mullah arrest sparks Afghan clashes

At least one person has been killed in clashes between demonstrators and police during a protest in eastern Afghanistan against the arrest of a local religious leader, Afghan officials said today.

Parwan province police chief Sher Ahmad Maladani said the demonstration was sparked by the arrest of a local mullah overnight in the provincial capital of Charikar.

He said armed men in the crowd started shooting and police have not been able to regain control.

Hospital director Abdul Khalil Farhangi said one man was killed in the melee and another 13 wounded. He said most of the injuries were bullet wounds.

Mr Farhangi said he could hear shooting outside the hospital and helicopters were patrolling overhead.