Factional fighting spreads in Afghanistan

[Chicago Democrat]

Factional fighting spreads in Afghanistan
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By Stephen Graham

April 11, 2004 | KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Factional violence spread across Afghanistan on Sunday, with gunbattles in the north between militias of two powerful warlords leaving up to three fighters dead, rival groups said Sunday.

Forces loyal to Abdul Rashid Dostum and his rival, Atta Mohammed, battled overnight in Kod-e-Barq, an area about 190 miles northwest of the capital, Kabul.


About 500 fighters from Mohammed's faction looted houses belonging to Dostum and leaders of his faction, a spokesman for Dostum said. Three of Dostum's men were killed and about 15 were injured, the spokesman, Akbar Boy, said.

(snip)

Shafi claimed Dostum's militia, armed with rockets, attacked the area in preparation for a move on Mazar-e-Sharif, a major northern city where the two militias jostle for control.


rest at...

http://salon.com/news/wire/2004/04/11/afghan2/index.html

(need to sit thru commercial)