Hundreds of Afghans stage protest after civilian deaths in E. province

Hundreds of Afghans staged protest in the eastern Nangarhar province after at least two civilians were killed in a raid by the U.S.-led coalition forces, witnesses told Xinhua.

The protesters brought six bodies to and blocked a main road from Jalalabad, the provincial capital, to Torkham, a town bordering Pakistan, the witnesses said.

The demonstrators alleged all the six killed were civilians and demanded coalition forces to immediately release the eight persons detained in the raid.

A coalition statement said four militants were killed in a raid and two civilians killed in the crossfire, adding one male adult was detained for questioning.

The statement said the forces conducted the raid in Bati Kot area to capture a suicide car bombing cell in a compound, and found many weapons and bomb-making materials there.

Many angry Nangarhar residents protested on the same road after coalition forces killed at least eight civilians following a suicide bombing in March.

Source: Xinhua