Afghanistan..Remember that place...?

Two Killed, Dozens Hurt in Afghan Protest

Wednesday May 11, 2005 12:16 PM


By STEPHEN GRAHAM

Associated Press Writer

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Police and U.S. troops opened fire in an eastern Afghan city to control hundreds of students rioting over the alleged desecration of Islam's holy book at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. At least two protesters were killed and more than 50 injured, officials said.

Shouting ``Death to America,'' the demonstrators smashed car and shop windows and stoned a passing convoy of American soldiers in the city of Jalalabad, near the Pakistan border. Mobs also attacked the Pakistani consulate and the office of a Swedish relief organization. No foreigners were reported hurt.

``They are very angry and are spread over all over the city,'' provincial intelligence chief Sardar Shah told The Associated Press. ``There are police, army and Americans shooting into the air. ... We've tried to get control but I think it is impossible.''

At one point, students threw stones at a group of American military vehicles, officials said. U.S. troops fired into the air before quickly leaving the area, Shah said. A U.S. military spokeswoman in Kabul had no comment.

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