Afghan militias seize provincial capital

[dArKeR]

AP , KABUL
Saturday, Apr 10, 2004,Page 6

A powerful warlord's militias have overrun a provincial capital in Afghanistan, forcing the governor to flee in what could be the biggest challenge yet to US-backed President Hamid Karzai.

The takeover of Maymana could raise concerns in Washington over the stability of Afghanistan as the country prepares for national elections and US troops face a surge of violence in Iraq.

Forces of Abdul Rashid Dostum stormed into Maymana, the capital of Faryab province, some 420km northwest of Kabul, Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali said.

"They have control of the city," Jalali said, adding that the "massive" force had met little opposition during the invasion Thursday.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/04/10/2003136093

[arcane1]

1. well this is very interesting

are Georgie's hands full? Maybe he can do some prime Afghan heroin to get over it...

Seems the people of Afghanistan don't like oil-puppet presidents any more than we do

[w13rd0]

2. Everyone keep in mind...

...it was Dostum's cooperation that prevented the "need" for a force as large as that which is in Iraq to pull off overthrowing the Taliban. And in the course of those efforts, many "mistakes" were made, atrocities committed. Once again, Bush has failed. He handed a warlord the keys to Afghanistan so he could pursue his Baghdad adventure.

[Minstrel Boy]

3. Countdown to the glorified Lord Mayor of Kabul's inglorious end?

Anyone recall the fate of Najibulla, the last of Afghanistan's pro-Soviet leadership?

[DivinBreuvage]

4. I've said it before and I'll say it again

The spokesman for this freaking administration should be Steven J. Urkel from "Family Matters".