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Anger in Kabul

October 6, 2011

Around 200 people demonstrated in Kabul, chanting anti-American slogans, demanding the immediate withdrawal of foreign troops and torching the United States' flag ahead of the 10th anniversary of the US-led invasion.

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Afghan people take part in an anti U.S. rally organized by "Afghanistan Hambastegi" party in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday Oct. 6, 2011.
People from all walks of life joined the anti-US rally in KabulImage: dapd

In Kabul the protesters shouted "death to America and its Afghan puppets" at the end of their peaceful march through the city centre, according to AFP. One of the organisers, Hafizullah Rasekh said, "Our demonstration is to condemn the invasion. We want the US military and their NATO allies to leave Afghanistan immediately. We want them to stop killing innocent Afghans."

A female protestor, Jamila, who said she was a housewife added,"I don't see any difference between the atrocities of the Taliban and the Americans. Both are killing innocent people."

Thursday's peaceful demonstration in downtown Kabul was meant to mark the October 7 invasion of Afghanistan 10 years ago, triggered by the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States.

There are still nearly 150,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan; most are from the US
There are nearly 150,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan; most are from the USImage: AP

Civilian casualties

The United Nations says 1,462 civilians were killed in the first half of this year and insurgents were responsible for 80 percent of the deaths.

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) says it does all it can to limit civilian casualties in operations - the issue is highly controversial and incidents resulting in civilian deaths have been repeatedly condemned by President Hamid Karzai.

Agencies: AFP, AP (mj)
Editor: Grahame Lucas

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