PAN, March 11, 2009

Protest against the US-led coalition forces for civilian killings

A protestor Haji Ahmad Jan called for a revolt against the government if it did not take action against the killers of innocent man.

Zainullah Stanakzai

LASHKARGAH Mar 11, 2009: Relatives mourn over the body of a local civilian killed by a mortar shell of the foreign soldiers in the southern Helmand province late Tuesday night. (Photo: PAJHWOK/Zainullah Stanikzai)

LASHKARGAH: Residents of Lashkargah, capital city of southern Helmand province, on Wednesday staged a protest demonstration against the US-led coalition forces and Afghan government.

They alleged that a civilian was killed and another wounded when a shell hit them in Spini Kotta area of the city during an operation by the foreign forces last night.

The relatives of the deceased and the area people took to the streets early this morning, chanting slogans against the US forces and the government.

A protestor Haji Ahmad Jan called for a revolt against the government if it did not take action against the killers of innocent man.

He said the man who killed in the raid was a farmer and his brother sustained serious injuries.Haji Zakoom, an elder of the area told this agency the victim brothers were at work in their fields when a mortar shell fired by foreign troops hit them, killing one and injuring another.

He said the attack landed the family in deep trouble as there is no one else to feed them.

Locals say the existence of foreign troops in the country is the main reason behind their agony.

Local officials in Helmand were tight lipped about the incident, but province based ISAF forces denied the charges.

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