Blame game consumes Afghanistan in wake of riots

KABUL, June 4 (Reuters) Blame the police, blame the opposition, blame agitators, criminals and opportunists, blame panicky American soldiers, blame bad brakes.

Recriminations have reverberated around Kabul in the week since anti-American riots plunged the Afghan capital into a state of anarchy for a few hours after a US military truck was involved in an accident.

At least five Afghans were killed by the runaway truck, which the US military says suffered brake failure, and seven were killed in the aftermath, some shot by American soldiers, according to a senior policeman.

For President Hamid Karzai, whom detractors refer to as the ''Mayor of Kabul'' because of his government's weakness, the unrest has undermined his authority even more.

''If you lose people's confidence it is very difficult to get it back. Unfortunately, he has lost this confidence because he has not been able to deliver,'' said Hamidullah Tarzi, a former minister in several governments.

It is a scathing assessment of a president who was elected with a 55 per cent majority 20 months ago in an election seen as a crucial step in a US mission to spread democracy.

''The more we speak about progress, democracy, the more we stir people's anger, for we have not been able to deliver what they need and what we promised,'' said Waheed Mozhda, a writer and former official in both Karzai's government and the Taliban's.

Afghans see how a few have prospered. They see former faction commanders building shopping malls, and gleaming sports utility vehicles passing them by. They see the comforts enjoyed by western consultants and aid workers.

But in an artificial economy, propped up by aid and drugs, there is little investment in production, and the majority wonder if they will ever benefit.

PURGING POLICE Most Afghans deplored last Monday's violence, saying the protest over the accident was hijacked by petty criminals, agitators, loafers and schoolboys.

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