Italians held over alleged plot to kill Afghan governor

[Turborama]

Source: The Guardian

Three Italian medical workers are among nine people who were detained over an alleged plot to kill an Afghan provincial governor, officials said.

The nine were held after suicide bomb vests, hand grenades, pistols and explosives were discovered in a hospital storeroom in Lashkar Gah, capital of the southern province of Helmand, a spokesman for the provincial government said. Police had been tipped off about a plot to kill Helmand's governor during a future visit to the hospital, the spokesman said.

A video of the raid shows British troops accompanying Afghan police, soldiers and government officials to the hospital, which is run by the Italian private group Emergency. In a storeroom, boxes are opened containing what appear to be bullets, pistols, hand grenades, and bags of explosives.

A British soldier is heard saying that an explosives disposal unit was on its way. Three foreign staff members are shown sitting on outdoor benches, their identification cards visible but their names unclear.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/11/afghanistan-italian-medical-workers-held

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AP Video of the raid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_FK7i3AatE

[conspirator]

1. Why? Is the Italian Mafia trying to get a share of the drug dealing. The CIA will not like that nt

[Turborama]

2. There could be an answer to the "why" question in this article.

Could have been a way to stop them from treating "suspected members of the Taliban"...

Italians arrested over Afghan plot

UPDATED ON:
SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2010
18:02 GMT

Speaking from Milan, Cecilia Strada, the head of Emergency, told Al Jazeera that this was a completely groundless claim.

"It sounds quite ridiculous that they would be involved in any plot. They have spent the last few years in Afghanistan, helping and treating people for free."

=snip=

Emergency has had a tense relationship with local authorities due to its policy of treating all patients, including those suspected members of the Taliban.

It has operated in Afghanistan since 1999 and currently runs three surgical centres, a maternity centre and a network of 28 health centres that they say have treated 2.5 million people.

Full article: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/04/201041171211170120.html