Unrest grips Kabul after US truck crash, 13 dead

KABUL, May 29 (Reuters) Security forces opened fire on protesters killing at least eight Afghans today after a fatal road accident involving a US army truck sparked violent demonstrations in the capital.

The truck, part of a US convoy, had crashed into a dozen vehicles, killing five people, according to a statement from Afghan President Hamid Karzai's palace.

A health ministry official said at least eight more people were killed and over 100 wounded during the subsequent protests.

After the accident a furious crowd hurled stones and smashed windows of the convoy vehicles, and one of the besieged US vehicles appeared to fire in the air, according to a US military statement.

Afghan police also opened fire when they came to the assistance of the US troops.

It was unclear who was responsible for shooting into the angry crowd. Some eyewitnesses blamed the U.S. troops, others blamed the police and some blamed both.

''There are indications that at least one coalition military vehicle fired warning shots over the crowd,'' the U.S. statement said.

A Reuters reporter at the scene saw one man shot dead and several wounded people being taken away, while rioters set alight two police cars. Several television cameramen were beaten by protesters, journalists said.

US military spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Fitzpatrick, said no US troops had been hurt, and an investigation had begun into the incident which happened in Kabul's northern outskirts during the morning rush hour.

By early afternoon up to two thousand protesters had gathered in central Kabul, some marching on parliament and some on the presidential palace, and gunfire crackled as Afghan police and troops fired in the air to disperse the crowds.

Several hundred more congregated at an intersection leading to the heavily fortified U.S. embassy chanting slogans of ''Death to America'' and burning American flags.

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