KABUL, Sept. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- The newly appointed governor of Heart in west Afghanistan Syed Mohammad Khirkhah assumed office amid tight security and increasing violence Sunday.

    Afghan Vice President Niamatullah Sharani who introduced the new governor to provincial authorities at a heavily guarded ceremony returned to Kabul presumably on security reasons the same day. Many officials have also left the city, Xinhua correspondent who was at the scene noticed.

    The handover ceremony was held at 4 p.m. local time but the ousted former governor Ismael Khan was absent. Rumors have circulated that the defiant former warlord was kept under US custody, but this cannot be independently verified.

    Khan, the strongman of west Afghanistan who has been appointed as Minister for Mines and Industries Saturday is reluctant to accept the new post saying he complies with the order to give up governorship but prefer to stay at home instead of assuming new charge.

    The Khan's removal triggered unexpected violence as hundreds of his supporters took to the streets Saturday evening and Sunday.

    Early in the evening, a doctor on condition of anonymity said that a local hospital have received five dead bodies and 50 wounded people. Many of the injured have been listed in serious conditions.

    According to locals, at least five people including a trooper of Afghan National Army (ANA) have been killed. "The situation is really bad," one wounded young man said.

    Beside chanting anti-Karzai and anti-US slogans, the protesters attacked, vandalized and set fire on offices of UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), UN Refugees Agency (UNHCR) and many others including Pakistan consulate in the city.

    Sporadic gunshots were audible Sunday night in the city while troops of ANA and US military were patrolling the city to ensure law and order there. A curfew is to be threwn on the city when the night comes. Government offices and shops were forced to close. The city was shrouded in darkness in the evening as the power supply was cut off.

    Helicopters of the US-led coalition have been circling in low altitude over Herat to cope with any eventuality. Enditem