Afghans in the strife-torn northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif fled a skirmish between the forces of two warlords who were discussing security in the area with a visiting central government team, residents said this morning.
At least one fighter was killed and another wounded during the brief clash between groups loyal to Tajik warlord Ustad Atta Mohammad and the Shi'ite faction of Hezb-i-Wahdat yesterday, they said.
The two sides are struggling for control of the ancient city and surrounding territory on the border with neighboring Uzbekistan.
Soon after the clash started yesterday, dozens of shops in Mazar closed down and people began to flee, fearing a repeat of the street fighting that scarred the city during the civil war in the 1990s.
The United Nations has voiced its concern that a series of deadly clashes in recent weeks across the northern regions could escalate.
There have been several independent calls for the Turkish-led International Security Assistance Force, keeping peace in the capital, Kabul, to extend its mandate to the north.