BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhuanet)-- The Government of Afghanistan declared a six-hour curfew in the capital Kabul Monday after one of the worst riots broke out across the city since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

Afghan people look at a burning police vehicle in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 29, 2006. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    The riot was stirred by a road accident involving a U.S. military truck reportedly slamming into civilian vehicles.

    The fatal accident took place in Sarai Shamali, some 10 km north of the Presidential Palace, and killed at least 25 and damaged 15 civilian vehicles, according to eyewitnesses.   

    The U.S. military has expressed its sorrow and accepted responsibility after the bloody road accident. 

    However, the locals of Kabul gathered and started stoning the troops Monday.

    The riot soon snowballed with demonstrators torching buildings and scores of police posts as well as trying to force their way into compounds for the United Nations office and massing near the U.S. embassy.

    Meanwhile, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has expressed his deep sad over the traffic accident, by saying that the government of Afghanistan is the sole protector of the lives and property of Afghans, and called on his people to exercise restraint.

     At least eight people have been killed and more than 100 injured in riots. The toll and number of injured are expected to rise.  Enditem

(Agencies)

Related:

¡¤US military accepts responsibility for Afghan accident

¡¤Protestors on rampage in Afghan capital

¡¤Death toll from road accident in Afghanistan rises to 25

¡¤Road accident triggers riot in Kabul

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