Dozens of protesters clashed with police in western Afghanistan Thursday during a demonstration against recent civilian deaths blamed on the U.S. military.
Police fired their guns in an effort to disperse stone-throwing protesters outside government buildings in the town of Farah. Officials say four people were injured in the scuffle, including one who was shot. The demonstrators chanted "Death to America" as they rallied against the deaths of about 100 civilians in Farah province earlier this week that villagers blame on U.S. air strikes.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert
Gates expressed regret at the casualties
and said a joint U.S.-Afghan team is investigating the civilian deaths in Bala Bulak.Gates told reporters in Kabul that he has heard reports
that Taliban fighters may be responsible for some of the deaths.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai told reporters Thursday that civilian
casualties cause "pain to Afghans."