DUSHANBE, March 25, 2016, Asia-Plus – At least one person has been killed and five others have been wounded after a demonstration between supporters of two rival former warlords turned violent in northern Afghanistan.
Afghan news agency
Khaama
reports the supporters of General Abdul Rashid Dostum and Ata Mohammad Noor engaged in a clash yesterday in northern Faryab province of Afghanistan.
The clashes reportedly involved thousands of supporters of ethnic Uzbek Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum and Balkh Province Governor Atta Mohammad Noor, a Tajik.
According to the local officials, one person was killed and five others were wounded in the incident, involving exchange of fire among the supporters of the two prominent political figures.
Provincial police chief Syed Agha Andarabi confirmed that the victims of the incident were rally participants who were marching in Maimana city.
This reportedly comes as hundreds of supporters of Gen. Dostum staged protests in northern Sar-e-Pul, Samangan, Faryab and Jawzjan provinces against the removal of the Vice President’s pictures.
Wednesday’s mass demonstrations followed a day after hundreds of supporters of Gen. Dostum protested against the act in Mazar city where the pictures were removed and torn by unidentified individuals.
Meanwhile, the supporters of the acting provincial governor of Balkh province Ata Mohammad Noor also took to the streets on Tuesday to protests in his support.
Amid fears that the protests would trigger chaos and riots in the north, Noor issued a statement on Monday immediately after the removal of Gen. Dostum’s pictures spark furor among his supporters.
Noor, who is leading Jamiat-e-Islami party, warned regarding any provocative acts in reaction to the removal of the picture and urged the people to refrain from chaos and moves that lead to disorders in the city.
