Unrest grips Kabul after US truck crash

Security forces opened fire on protesters yesterday after a fatal crash, involving a US army truck, triggered the worst riots in the Afghan capital since the fall of the Taliban.

Officials said five people died when the truck, part of a US convoy, crashed into a dozen vehicles. At least eight people were killed and more than 100 wounded in the subsequent protests, a health ministry official said.

After the accident a furious crowd hurled stones and smashed windows of the convoy vehicles, according to a US military statement. "There are indications that at least one coalition military vehicle fired warning shots over the crowd," it said.

Afghan police also opened fire when they came to the assistance of the US troops, but it was unclear who was responsible for shooting into the angry crowd.

Some eyewitnesses blamed the US troops, others blamed the police and some blamed both.

A Reuters reporter at the scene saw one man shot dead and several wounded people being taken away, while rioters set alight two police cars.

Several television cameramen were beaten by protesters, journalists said.