At least two protesters were killed when supporters of a sacked Afghan governor clashed with US and Afghan security forces in the Western city of Herat on Saturday, hospital officials and witnesses said. Dozens of supporters of Ismail Khan gathered outside his home, chanting slogans against the United States and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, after he was replaced as provincial governor.
Witnesses said shots were fired by US and Afghan security forces after their convoy was pelted with stones. Hospital officials, witnesses and police said two people were killed, four injured and four arrested.
In a bold move designed to establish his US-backed government's authority in the region, Karzai sacked Ismail Khan as governor of prosperous Herat province on Saturday.
Ismail, a former anti-Soviet fighter, later said that he would not accept the position of mines and industry minister he was offered in exchange for his dismissal.