Hundreds of Afghans protest against U.S. special operationsMarch 16, 2013 - 14:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Several hundred demonstrators chanting "U.S. special operations forces out!" marched to the Afghan parliament building in Kabul Saturday, March 16 protesting the continued presence of U.S. commandos in Afghanistan's troubled Wardak province, AP said. Kabul's deputy police chief Gen. Mohammad Daud Amin said the demonstration of roughly 500 Afghans has been peaceful. The demonstrators are demanding the release of nine local citizens they believe were detained by the U.S. forces. Banners in the Afghan languages of Pashto and Dari as well as English read, "I want my father," and "We want our prisoners back from the government, dead or alive." "Americans and U.S. special operations forces must leave," said protester Abdul Hadi. U.S. officials have acknowledged four men arrested in the province in joint U.S.-Afghan raids, but had no information on the other five alleged detainees. Afghan President Hamid Karzai had demanded all U.S. commandos leave the province early last week, but agreed to give top U.S. commander Gen. Joseph Dunford more time to craft a solution that maintains security in Wardak, which is used as a gateway by militants to bring bombers and weapons into Kabul. The demonstrators are demanding the release of nine local citizens they believe were detained by the U.S. forces. Banners the Afghan languages of Pashto and Dari as well as English read, "I want my father," and "We want our prisoners back from the government, dead or alive." "Americans and U.S. special operations forces must leave," said protester Abdul Hadi. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |