| Submit your comments on this article |
| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Governor's rival closes in on Herat |
| 2004-08-17 |
| Fighting raged around the main western Afghan city Herat on Tuesday after forces opposed to Governor Ismael Khan captured a key district and moved closer to Herat, sending residents fleeing in panic, officials and residents said. Troops loyal to Khan, governor of vast Herat province bordering Iran, have been battling the forces of rival Pashtun commander Amanullah Khan for the past four days. At least 60 people were killed in clashes at the weekend, officials have said. On Tuesday morning Amanullah's forces broke through Ismael Khan's frontline at Astrakan district 85 kilometres south of Herat, officials on both sides said. "In the morning Ismael Khan's troops attacked Amanullah's. Later the fighting became very tense and Amanullah's troops broke through Khan's frontline at Astraskan," a local intelligence official said, asking not to be named. "Around 10:30am they took control of Astrakan district." Amanullah told the Afghan Islamic Press that Khan's forces had retreated from Astrakan. "As a result our forces have captured Astrakan. Our forces are now positioned between Astrakan and Herat city," he said. As US warplanes flew overhead, patrolling Herat and surrounding districts, citizens living near Herat airport 20 kilometres south of the city centre fled their homes as Amanullah's troops approached, residents said. Governor Khan was seen distributing weapons to civilians. Uniformed and plain clothes armed men were stationed at every major intersection on Herat's streets, an AFP correspondent observed. The latest offensive caps a string of factional clashes between rival warlords battling for control of the western provinces of Herat, Farah, Badghis and Ghor in recent months. He said United States-led military coalition troops from Kabul were ready to be used if fighting spiralled out of control. "The Afghan government naturally has the lead in this matter and is trying to resolve the situation peacefully," said US military spokesman Major Rick Peat. |
| Posted by:Fred |