Saturday, February 25, 2012

American officers killed in Afghan Interior Ministry

By Hamid Shalizi and Amie Ferris-Rotman

KABUL (Reuters) - Two American officers were shot dead inside Afghanistan's interior ministry on Saturday while rage gripped the country for a fifth day over the burning of the Muslim holy book at a NATO base.

Afghan police march towards protesters during clashes in Kabul February 24, 2012. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

NATO recalled all staff working at ministries in the Afghan capital Kabul following the attack, with its top commander in Afghanistan calling the killer a "coward."

"For obvious force protection reasons, I have also taken immediate measures to recall all other ISAF personnel working in ministries in and around Kabul," said General John Allen, adding that the attacker's actions "will not go unanswered."

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the shootings, which it said were in retaliation for the desecration of the Korans at Bagram airfield. Afghan security sources said the two were a U.S. colonel and major with NATO forces.

The Koran burnings have ignited anti-Western feelings in Afghanistan despite an apology from U.S. President Barack Obama and a call for restraint from Afghan leader Hamid Karzai.

Thousands have taken to the streets in protest. Twelve people were killed and dozens wounded on Friday, the bloodiest day yet in demonstrations.

An Afghan security source said the American officers were found dead with gunshot wounds deep inside the heavily fortified interior ministry.

"There is CCTV there and special locks. The killer would have had to have the highest security (clearance) to get to the room where they were killed," the source told Reuters.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed two of its servicemen had been killed in Kabul but declined to say if the shooter was a member of the Afghan security forces.

The Koran burnings have underscored the deep cultural divide that still exists in Afghanistan more than 10 years after U.S. troops invaded to oust the Taliban and has deepened public mistrust of Western troops struggling to stabilise the country.

If the shootings are tied to Afghan forces, questions will arise about Taliban infiltration as well as their ability to secure Afghanistan once NATO combat forces withdraw in 2014.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement four high-ranking Americans had been killed, though the Islamist group often exaggerate and inflate claims of casualties.

"A devoted Mujahid hero, Abdul Rahman, killed four high-ranking Americans," he said.

"The attack came from the mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate in revenge for the American soldiers' repeated desecration of our religion, especially the latest intentional incident in the Bagram airfield which they burnt Korans," he added, using another name the group call themselves.

DESECRATION

An Afghan security source said the shooting of the two Americans in the Interior Ministry could be connected to the burning of the Korans.

Muslims consider the Koran to be the literal word of God and treat each copy with deep reverence. Desecration is considered one of the worst forms of blasphemy.

Four Afghans were shot dead by Afghan security forces as demonstrators took to the streets on Saturday, with an attempt by protesters to bombard a U.N. compound in the north.

At least 27 people have been killed in the protests, including two American soldiers who were gunned down on Thursday by an Afghan national army soldier who joined the rallies.

Hundreds of people tried to overrun a compound in the northern Kunduz province housing workers from the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), but were held back by police, Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.

A similar incident occurred in April last year when protesters angry over the burning of Korans by an obscure pastor in the United States stormed a U.N. compound in northern Balkh province, killing seven.

The protests could dent plans for a strategic pact that Washington is considering with Kabul, which would allow a sharply reduced number of Western troops to stay in the country, well beyond their combat exit deadline.

There have been instances of Afghan troops and forces turning on NATO troops. While NATO servicemen and staff live and work primarily at their bases, they also frequent the barricaded Afghan ministries dotted around Kabul on official business.

General Allen said an investigation had been launched. A U.S. official described the pullout of staff from Afghan ministries as a precaution.

(Additional reporting by Mirwais Harooni in KABUL and Phil Stewart in WASHINGTON, Writing by Amie Ferris-Rotman; Editing by Michael Georgy and Maria Golovnina)

News

Saturday, February 25, 2012

American officers killed in Afghan Interior Ministry

By Hamid Shalizi and Amie Ferris-Rotman