Kabul sends troops to curb disorder after killing

[JoFerret]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/23/international/asia/23AFGH.html?ex=1080622800&en=19224087f4782580&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

<<KABUL, Afghanistan, March 22 — The central government is sending about 1,000 troops from the new Afghan National Army to the western city of Herat to maintain order after the killing of a government minister on Sunday. The deployment is the army's largest to date.

As many as 100 people died in factional fighting on Sunday after the assassination of the son of the powerful provincial governor, Ismail Khan. The killing set off fierce fighting between Mr. Khan's forces and those backing Zaher Naibzadah, a division commander appointed by the government of Afghanistan's American-backed president, Hamid Karzai.


Protesters supporting Mr. Khan filled the streets on Monday, according to radio reports, chanting "Death to Karzai!" and "Death to America!" They also burned the house of Herat's chief justice.

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