Mobs protest ouster of governor, break into U.N. offices

By The Washington Post and The Associated Press

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HERAT, Afghanistan — Angry mobs loyal to ousted governor Ismail Khan burned and looted half a dozen international-aid compounds and stoned soldiers in this remote western city yesterday.

By nightfall, emergency-room doctors said, between three and 10 people had died and at least 45 had been wounded, mostly from shrapnel and bullets fired by Afghan troops and police. Three U.S. soldiers, who reportedly were helping aid workers evacuate, were injured by thrown rocks.

Flames and smoke rose all afternoon from several charred aid facilities, while gunfire crackled sporadically and military helicopters circled. Officials said most foreign staff members from United Nations and other aid agencies had taken refuge in bunkers or had been evacuated to a U.S. military compound. None was reported injured.

Khan, the longtime governor of Herat province and a powerful Islamic militia leader, was ousted late last week by interim Afghan President Hamid Karzai in what was perceived as an attempt by the U.S.-supported Karzai to consolidate his power before the October presidential election.

Khan said he accepted the removal, and he remained secluded in his home yesterday.

But news of Khan's removal enraged his supporters in this wealthy and strategically important trading city of 200,000 near the Iran border.

Witnesses said the mobs broke into offices of the U.N. political mission, the U.N. refugee agency, the World Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration and the U.N. anti-drug office.

They said the demonstrators set buildings and vehicles on fire, smashed furniture and stole equipment. They also ransacked the local office of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.

Officials and soldiers said the crowds blamed foreign forces and agencies for siding with Karzai against Khan.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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