KABUL, officials and witnesses said.

At least one person was killed and nine protesters and 16 policemen were wounded in the protest that came days after the pastor of a Florida church said he had changed his mind about burning Islam’s holy book, and just three days before the September 18 parliamentary election.

The protest started at 6:30am in the west of Kabul with thousands participating. Smoke was seen billowing into the sky as protesters burnt tyres and posters of election candidates.  Shops were closed in the area to prevent any looting.

Police were sent to the area at about 9am and fired water cannon and shots into the air to try to disperse the protesters, one of the demonstrators, 20-year-old Homayoon, said.  

Prayer leaders had called for a peaceful protest, but many of the participants ignored them, tearing down posters and throwing rocks at police, he said.

One person was killed and another nine were injured when police opened fire, he added.

Witnesses said they saw at least two people fall to the ground covered in blood.

The people are angry and could launch a new protest because of the way in which police fired at the crowd, another protester, Gul Agha, said.

Crime branch chief, Brig. Gen. Abdul Zahir, said one police officer was shot and wounded and that 15 others had been injured when the protesters threw rocks at them.

He said police had fired into the air to try to stop the protesters from marching towards the city, and that 10 people were wounded. He denied there were any deaths, but acknowledged that one person was in hospital in critical condition.  

He said the situation was under control but that he was concerned it could start again as there

Were some groups which would benefit from disrupting security during the election.

The protesters had demanded the cancellation of Saturday’s parliamentary election and the closing of the US Embassy in Kabul.

myn/cas

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