AFGHANISTAN: The governor of the eastern Afghan province of Khost said yesterday his forces had attacked fighters loyal to renegade warlord Padshah Khan Zadran after a radio report said Zadran had been arrested by US troops.
The Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) said at least 15 fighters and civilians had been killed and more than 51 wounded.
Zadran, whose forces had been illegally occupying the governor's office in the city of Khost, denied the arrest, saying he had met a US delegation earlier in the day to discuss his grievances about Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Hakim Taniwal, the official governor of Khost, who was in Kabul yesterday, told Reuters his men had forced Zadran's fighters out of the governor's office in Khost, but that there was some resistance in nearby buildings. Taniwal could not confirm the casualty figure.
AIP quoted Taniwal's spokesman Mohammed Khan Gurbuz as saying there had been casualties on both sides. "At least 15 people have been killed, including civilians and more than 51 wounded in the fighting," he said.
"Our forces thought that he (Zadran) was gone (arrested) and started the cleaning-up operation, forced his people out of the governor's office and other official buildings of Khost except for the mayor's office," Taniwal said. A spokesman for Zadran said the warlord was just outside the city of Gardez. He denied the report of his arrest.
He confirmed that Zadran, who has openly challenged Karzai's authority after being ousted as governor of Paktia province, had held talks with a US delegation during which he explained why he refused to recognise the central government.
Zadran was a key ally of US forces chasing al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters during early post-Taliban operations in the east and southeast of the country.
But Karzai sacked him as governor of Paktia in February and in May, Zadran showered the provincial capital of Gardez with missiles, killing more than 30 people.
Kabul vowed last month to crush the warlord after he organised anti-government street protests in Khost.
An official in Khost told Reuters fighting was continuing around the mayor's office.
"They are using light machine guns, rocket propelled grenades and grenades," said engineer Mohammed Shah Zadran.
The fighting was a reminder of the volatility of parts of eastern and southeastern Afghanistan. US forces have been active in the area in recent weeks hunting al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants, and locals have voiced opposition to the operations. A shopkeeper from the city said US troops were carrying out house-to-house searches yesterday in Dery village of Khost province, looking for arms and ammunition.
Earlier yesterday a bomb went off at a makeshift cinema in Khost city injuring at least 10 people, according to witnesses.
And at least 16 people were killed in clashes just north of the city when rival tribes took up arms to settle a land dispute. The violence in and around Khost city coincided with the departure for the United States of President Karzai. - (Reuters)