Lockdown in Kabul after clashes; blasts at funeral kill 12, injure dozens

Scores of protesters passed night under 2 big tents near presidential palace

Kabul, June 3: Kabul city was on lockdown on Saturday with armed checkpoints and armoured vehicles patrolling the streets to prevent a repeat of protests that spiralled into street clashes, leaving at least four people dead.

A demonstration in downtown Kabul that left people dead has entered a second day. More than a thousand people on Friday demanded more security in the capital following a truck bomb attack in the city that killed 90 people, wounded more than 450.

Scores of protesters passed the night under two big tents on a road near the presidential palace and the blast site. All roads toward the palace and diplomatic areas were being blocked on Saturday by the police and there is limited movement of vehicles. Hundreds of demonstrators calling for President Ashraf Ghani to step down clashed with the police on Friday, prompting officials to beat them back with live rounds in the air, tear gas and water cannon.

The protesters were voicing anger over a truck bombing on Wednesday in Kabul’s diplomatic quarter that killed 90 people and wounded hundreds, the deadliest attack in the city since 2001. Authorities have sealed off roads in the centre of the city, citing the threat of new attacks on large gatherings of people. “We have intelligence reports that our enemies are trying again to carry out attacks on gatherings and demonstrations,” said Kabul garrison commander Gul Nabi Ahmadzai. “We hope that people will stay away from protests.” But dozens of people gathered on Saturday under a tent close to the presidential palace calling for Mr Ghani’s government to resign, but the assembly was largely peaceful.

“Any government attempt to disrupt our fair demonstration will show their complicity with terrorist groups and the perpetrators of Wednesday’s attack,” said a protester spokesman.