Fatal Car Crash Sparks Afghan Protest

VOA News
5 April 2011

An Afghan woman has been killed in an accident involving a NATO convoy in Kabul, adding to heightened tensions in the country.

Afghan police say another woman and a child were injured in Wednesday's accident in the capital.

NATO confirmed a three-vehicle convoy accidentally struck and killed a woman as it traveled through Kabul.

Following the accident, angry Afghans gathered at the scene. Some bystanders threw stones at international forces.

Tensions are high between Afghans and foreigners following several days of deadly protests against the burning of a Quran by a U.S. pastor.

Separately Wednesday, NATO said it killed seven insurgents in a failed attack on a base in eastern Afghanistan.

A NATO release said the insurgents used rifles and rocket-propelled grenades to assault the base in the city of Jalalabad Tuesday.

It said NATO forces and an attack helicopter returned fire.

NATO said none of its forces were injured in the attack.

And the governor of Kunar province, Fazelullah Wahidi, said Wednesday that NATO and Afghan forces have killed more than 130 insurgents during a week-long offensive in the eastern province. He says many of the fighters are from outside Afghanistan.

A NATO spokesman said more than 70 insurgents have been killed in the operation.

Six NATO soldiers were also killed in the area last week.

In southern Afghanistan, NATO says two of its soldiers died after a friendly fire incident on Wednesday. The coalition did not give details and says it is investigating the incident.

In other news, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, announced Wednesday in Kabul a $50 million donation from the U.S. government towards the Afghan government's reconciliation efforts with the Taliban.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.