International
Afghanistan: Govt. forces routed
KABUL
Feb. 1.
Afghan tribal fighters consolidated their grip on the southeastern town of Gardez today after pushing out forces loyal to the interim administration in fighting that has underscored the need for greater security.
The forces of the Governor, Padshah Khan Zadran, recently appointed by the fledgling Interim Government in Kabul, retreated from the town after a two-day battle in which an estimated 50 fighters were killed. ``Now we are focusing on the funerals and treating the wounded,'' Safiullah, an official from the victorious faction, said as he hurried to a burial.
The battle came as the leader of the six-month-old Interim Government, Hamid Karzai, was visiting the United States and Britain where he appealed for an expansion of an international security force. Mr. Karzai and key aid donors fear such fighting could undermine his Government as it tries to rebuild the nation wrecked by years of war. Safiullah, the son of Haji Saifullah, commander of the victorious faction, said the fighting ended before dawn on Friday after the Governor's troops retreated to the outskirts of the town, located 122 km south of the capital, Kabul.
The fighting erupted on the outskirts of the town on Wednesday when the Governor's fighters tried to disarm some of Haji Saifullah's men. The next day the two sides were battling with heavy weapons over key Government buildings inside the town. Residents said hundreds of people had fled the town.
The Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency said more than 50 people had been killed on both sides. Safiullah said he had no figure for the number of people killed and wounded. Mr. Saifullah said he had been elected the Governor of Paktia province by the various Pashtun tribes of Gardez before the Interim Government appointed Mr. Zadran. Mr. Safiullah said a provincial Governor appointed by Mr. Karzai's administration would be acceptable provided he had the approval of the province's tribal council, led by himself. ``We don't want war with anybody. We have no problem with Karzai. The fighting in Gardez was to a large extent a tribal issue, not a political one,'' he said.
A resident of Gardez was quoted by AIP as saying the tribal forces had captured the Governor House in the provincial capital city. Mr. Zadran's forces were said to be reassembling on the western side of the city. Mr. Zadran, a monarchist, enjoys political clout in the Kabul Government. — Reuters, DPA
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
International
|
