Afghans protest foreign forces
Source: Agencies |
October 7, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
HUNDREDS of people marched through the streets of the Afghan capital yesterday, demanding the immediate withdrawal of international military forces ahead of the 10th anniversary of the US invasion.
The peaceful demonstration in downtown Kabul marked the October 7 invasion of Afghanistan 10 years ago, following the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States.
The US invasion came after Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, purportedly because of his disbelief that the al-Qaida chief was responsible for the attacks.
US forces killed bin Laden in a raid on his hideout in Pakistan in May.
The demonstrators chanted "no to occupation," and "Americans out" as they marched through the streets holding pictures of Afghans killed in violence, and later burned an American flag. The demonstration was organized by a small, left-wing party.
"The United States said it came to help the Afghan people and provide a good life to Afghan people, but their true purpose was to occupy our country," said Farzana, a 22-year-old woman. "It is 10 years since the invasion of Afghanistan and all it has left behind is the blood of the Afghan people. We want the US to leave our country."
She added that "suicide attacks, insecurity and corruption are increasing day-by-day."
In southwestern Helmand province, insurgents opened fire yesterday on a civilian bus, killing a man and a child and wounding 16 others, the governor's office said. And in southern Uruzgan province, a car bomb killed the commander of a highway security force, Wali Jan, as he walked out of his home.
The US-led coalition has more than 130,000 troops in Afghanistan, with about 98,000 from the United States. International forces have begun handing over responsibly for security to Afghan forces, and all foreign combat troops are to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
The peaceful demonstration in downtown Kabul marked the October 7 invasion of Afghanistan 10 years ago, following the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States.
The US invasion came after Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, purportedly because of his disbelief that the al-Qaida chief was responsible for the attacks.
US forces killed bin Laden in a raid on his hideout in Pakistan in May.
The demonstrators chanted "no to occupation," and "Americans out" as they marched through the streets holding pictures of Afghans killed in violence, and later burned an American flag. The demonstration was organized by a small, left-wing party.
"The United States said it came to help the Afghan people and provide a good life to Afghan people, but their true purpose was to occupy our country," said Farzana, a 22-year-old woman. "It is 10 years since the invasion of Afghanistan and all it has left behind is the blood of the Afghan people. We want the US to leave our country."
She added that "suicide attacks, insecurity and corruption are increasing day-by-day."
In southwestern Helmand province, insurgents opened fire yesterday on a civilian bus, killing a man and a child and wounding 16 others, the governor's office said. And in southern Uruzgan province, a car bomb killed the commander of a highway security force, Wali Jan, as he walked out of his home.
The US-led coalition has more than 130,000 troops in Afghanistan, with about 98,000 from the United States. International forces have begun handing over responsibly for security to Afghan forces, and all foreign combat troops are to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
