4 NATO Soldiers, 15 Afghanis Killed Over Burning the Holy Quran in Bagram Airbase, February 25, 2012

4 NATO Soldiers, 15 Afghanis Killed Over Burning the Holy Quran in Bagram Airbase

February 25, 2012

Xinhua news agency mentioned that the total number of Afghanis killed during the protests against burning the Holy Quran in the Bagram airbase reached 15 and hundreds of injuries.

Gun shots heard in Afghan Interior Ministry, 2 foreigners killed

KABUL, Feb. 25, 2012 (Xinhua) --

Gun shots erupted inside the Afghan Interior Ministry on Saturday, killing two foreigners, a police officer said.

"Two foreigners who served as advisors were killed when a foreigner opened fire on colleague and received similar response which led to the murder of both," the officer told Xinhua but declined to be identified.

The shootout, according to another official who declined to be identified, took place inside the Command and Control Center of the Interior Ministry.

Editor: Lu Hui

NATO confirms 2 service members dead in Kabul

KABUL, Feb. 25, 2012 (Xinhua) --

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed that two of its service members were killed in Kabul on Saturday.

"Initial reports indicate an individual turned his weapon against International Security Assistance Force service members in Kabul City today, killing two service members," the short statement added.

However, it did not identify the nationalities of the victims, saying it is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.

Meantime, the Afghan Interior Ministry in a statement confirmed the incident by saying, "Two international colleagues of the Interior Ministry were killed in the premise of the ministry today afternoon. Investigation has been initiated into the case."

Meanwhile, a source with the Interior Ministry said on the condition of anonymity that an Afghan police opened fire and killed two American advisors.

Editor: Yamei Wang

Protest over Quran burning in N. Afghan town kills 1, injures 31

KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Feb. 25, 2012 (Xinhua) --

Protest over the alleged Quran burning by U.S. troops, resumed in Kunduz city, the capital of Kunduz province, 250 km north of capital Kabul on Saturday and clashes between police and protesters have left one person dead and injured 31 others, according to local officials.

The angry mob were attempting to attack the office of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in Kunduz city and police blocked their way which erupted into clashes during which several people were killed and injured," police spokesman Syed Sarwar Hussaini told Xinhua

He said it is too early to say the exact number of those killed and injured, adding an investigation is underway.

"One dead body and 16 injured others with some in critical condition have been taken to the Kunduz city hospital," head of the health department in Kunduz city Ataullah Niazi told Xinhua.

Meantime, another official who declined to give his name said that 15 more injured bodies had been taken to other health centers.

The demonstration, according to the official, is still going on and police are struggling to calm down the situation.

Editor: Yamei Wang

American officers killed in Afghan Interior Ministry

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8:50am EST

Afghanistan erupts in violence over NATO burnings of Koran – Rough Cuts Afghans protest Koran burning Afghan protesters set fire to NATO trucks

1 of 10. Afghan protesters move a dead man during clashes in Kabul February 24, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Ahmad Masood

Four die in Afghan Quran burning protests (00:39)

By Hamid Shalizi and Amie Ferris-Rotman

Sat Feb 25, 2012 1:17pm EST

KABUL (Reuters) -

Two American officers were shot dead at close range inside Afghanistan's Interior Ministry on Saturday, a U.S. official said, as rage gripped the country for a fifth day over the burning of the Muslim holy book at a NATO base.

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 two American officers, advisers to the ministry, were fired on at close range, a U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the shootings, which it said were in retaliation for the desecration of copies of the Koran by foreign troops at NATO's Bagram air base. Afghan security sources said the two dead were a U.S. colonel and major with NATO forces.

U.S. President Barack Obama has sent a letter to his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, apologizing for what Washington says was the unintentional burning of the Korans, after Afghan laborers found charred copies while collecting rubbish.

The Quran burnings ignited anti-Western fury. Thousands have taken to the streets and at least 27 people have been killed in the protests. Two American soldiers were shot dead on Thursday by an Afghan national army soldier who joined the rallies.

HIGH SECURITY CLEARANCE

An Afghan security source said the American officers killed on Saturday had been 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.

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

NATO is supposed to be moving away from a combat role to an advise-and-assist mission as early as next year. That will require NATO to place more staff in ministries.

"The fact that NATO is recalling staff from ministries suggests they are worried about a deep malaise in the Afghan security forces, that they expect more of these attacks," said Kamran Bokhari at STRATFOR global intelligence firm.

The Koran burnings have underscored the deep cultural mistrust between Afghans and the foreign troops who invaded a decade ago to oust the Taliban from power.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement four high-ranking Americans had been killed. 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.

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

In April last year 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 people.

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 several instances of Afghan troops and forces turning on NATO troops. NATO servicemen and staff live and work primarily at their bases, but 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 Andrew Roche)

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Afghan police kill 12 anti-gov't militants, capture 6

KABUL, Feb. 25, 2012 (Xinhua) --

Afghan police backed by NATO-led forces have eliminated a dozen anti-government insurgents and detained six others during operations in the southern Kandahar and Helmand provinces over the past 24 hours," a statement of Interior Ministry released here Saturday said.

"During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police backed by national army and the Coalition Forces launched three joint operations in Kandahar and Helmand provinces during which 12 armed insurgents were killed and six others were captured by Afghan National Police," the statement added.

A number of arms and ammunitions including explosive materials were also seized by police during the operations, it further said.

However, it did not say if there were any casualties on the security forces.

Taliban militants fighting Afghan and the NATO- troops have yet to make comment.

Editor: Yamei Wang

NATO helicopter allegedly crashes in Afghanistan

KABUL, Feb. 18, 2012 (Xinhua) --

A NATO helicopter might have fallen down in the eastern part of Afghanistan on Saturday, said a statement mailed to Xinhua by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

"We are aware of the claims that a helicopter crashed somewhere along the border region between Kabul and Laghman provinces today. ISAF officials are looking into those claims at this time, however we have no operational reports to indicate that any ISAF aircraft have been lost," the ISAF Joint Command (IJC) said in the statement.

Meanwhile, an official with the press department of Afghan Interior Ministry told Xinhua that "A unit of our police reported that a military helicopter crashed in eastern Laghman province Saturday but at this moment of time I cannot provide more details. "

He said more information will be released to media when appropriate.

Six American soldiers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were killed when a military helicopter went down in southern Helmand province on Jan. 19.

Editor: Fang Yang

NATO admits 8 Afghan children killed in air strike

KABUL, Feb. 15, 2012 (Xinhua) --

A NATO air strike targeting suspected insurgents in the eastern Afghan province of Kapisa on Feb. 8 had mistakenly killed eight Afghan children, a NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) official confirmed on Wednesday.

"Today I want to discuss the findings of this tragic incident in Kapisa last Wednesday, in which eight young Afghans lost their lives as the result of an air strike by coalition forces," General Boone, the ISAF Communication Director, told a press conference.

He said a joint unit of coalition and Afghan forces were operating on Feb. 8 to search for weapon caches and ammunition in Geyawa village of Nijrab district in the province.

"They clearly identified several groups of adult-sized Afghan males who were leaving the village at different times and in different directions," the general said.

"One of these groups, consisting of eight persons appeared to be carrying weapons and heading for the nearby mountains. They were observed moving in open terrain in a tactical fashion,....... after approximately 500 meters they were seen to gather under a large boulder," he said, adding that their purposeful movements made ground commanders believe this group was getting ready to attack.

"We saw no other people, livestock or buildings in the vicinity. Using standard tactical procedures and assisted by a ground observer, the aircraft dropped two bombs on the group that we believed to be an imminent threat to our people and in the end unfortunately eight young Afghans lost their lives in this very sad event," the general admitted.

The civilian casualties in the decade-war on terror in Afghanistan has increased for the fifth successive year as a total of 3,021 Afghan civilians were killed in 2011, an 8 percent rise over 2010, according to a United Nations annual report released in Kabul on Feb. 4.

The U.N. report attributed 77 percent of the civilian deaths last year to the attacks of Taliban and other militant groups. Another 14 percent of the deaths were attributed to Afghan and NATO-led forces.

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