Helmand, January 16: NATO acknowledged on Friday that the US-led forces had opened fire on civilians, injuring five people during anti-American protests in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.
Officials say the anti-American protests, that took place at the gates of a military base in the Garmsir district of Helmand province on Wednesday, was initially sparked by reports that US troops had desecrated the Holy Qur’an.
NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed on Friday that warning shots were fired as a crowd of up to 400 people gathered outside the gate of Combat Outpost Sher military base.
In its statement, ISAF said the people were told to keep their distance from the gate of the base. “However, a number of civilians in the crowd disregarded instructions, resulting in forces first firing warning shots and the five or six individuals that were an imminent threat were targeted.”
US military officials said there was no truth to rumors that the Holy Qur’an had been mistreated, but protests had turned deadly before US and Afghan officials met with community and tribal elders to diffuse tensions and security forces discouraged potential demonstrators from entering the town.
The incident came a day after eight protesters were killed and more than a dozen were injured in a similar demonstration in the region.
——-Agencies