There were angry scenes in Afghanistan on Friday as hundreds of demonstrators demanded the government’s resignation following this week’s devastating truck bomb attack that left dozens of people dead.
Police in riot gear used water cannon and tear gas to block protesters, many throwing stones, from gaining access to the road leading to the presidential palace in Kabul.
As tension mounted, regular bursts of gunfire rang out.
By mid-afternoon, an official at the city’s Italian-run Emergency Hospital said at least four people had been killed and “several” wounded. The bodies of some of the dead, wrapped in white shrouds, were held in the open by protesters.
Among the dead was the son of a prominent politician, according to Afghan media reports.
Protesters want more done to stem growing violence across much of the country.
More than 80 people died and hundreds were injured in Wednesday’s blast near the diplomatic area of the capital. Most of the victims were civilians.
There has been no claim of responsibility although Afghan intelligence officials have blamed the Haqqani network, a militant group affiliated with the Taliban.
with Reuters
