KABUL, May 29 (Xinhua) -- A mechanical failure of a U.S. convoy vehicle caused a road accident in north of the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday, which left one dead and wounded six, and caused a bloody riot, according to the U.S. military.
"Certainly a mechanical failure, I believe a break failure, caused the incident, which left one civilian dead and six injured," U.S. military spokeswoman Tamara Lawrence told Xinhua.
The incident occurred in Sarai Shamali, some 10 km north of the Presidential Palace, where a large number of police and personnel of law enforcing agencies have been stationed to control the situation.
However, the locals rejected the claim, saying that over 30 people were killed and 60 others wounded.
They said the U.S. soldiers and Afghan police opened fire, killing over 30 and wounding dozens others.
In the meantime, Lawrence told Xinhua that the personnel of Afghan National Police were at the site and she had no information on firing.
The bloody incident has provoked the locals and over 2,000 protesters. They hurled stones on police and chanted anti-Americans, anti-President Karzai and anti-Afghan Parliament slogans, displaying their anger over what they called the rude behavior of the U.S. forces.
The angry protestors also attacked journalists and photographers, did not allow them to take photos or file stories while trying to damage their cameras, tape recorders and other properties.
To calm down the situation, the police opened fire on the air but the violent procession is continuing.
On the other hand, the Speaker of Wolesi Jirga or National Assembly Mohammad Yunus Qanooni has called on protestors to exercise restraint. Enditem
