Afghan protesters demonstrate in front of the U.S. base in Bagram, around 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, July 26, 2005.

    KABUL, July 26 (Xinhuanet) -- A protest demonstration outside US military base at Bagram airfield Tuesday turned into violence injuring one demonstrator and attracting some 400 local employees to join in the rank of protestors, a demonstration organizer said.

    "A protestor was injured in US troops' firing outside the base while around 400 local employees inside the base joined the protestors to push their demand," Mohammad Zahir Rahimi told Xinhua from the scene.

    He added that the mob, had hurled stones on US forces and smashed the windows of their vehicles.

    The demonstration began after the arrest of eight locals including a former resistance commander Hamidullah Monday night, and was later joined by hundreds of men and teens.

    "We will not leave the ground unless our men are released," Rahimi emphasized.

Afghan protesters shout slogans during a demonstration outside Bagram Air Base after American troops arrested eight suspected bomb-makers in overnight raids

    On the other hand, the US military justified its action and said it took into custody eight suspected terrorists.

    "Monday operation which led to the capture of eight people suspected of planning and conducting attacks against US and Afghanforces was conducted against a single compound near the base," said a statement of US army issued here in the afternoon.

    "The detained individuals had materials used to make improvisedexplosive devices in their possession and are thought to be planning future attacks against coalition forces," the statement stressed.

    Bagram airfield 50 km north of Kabul has served as the Headquarters of over 20,000-strong US-led coalition troops since the collapse of Taliban regime in late 2001 in the war-battered central Asian state. Enditem