Armed protesters attack Afghan base used by Finnish peacekeepers

Three protesers killed - ISAF denies using deadly force

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At least three people were killed and about 20 were injured in an attack by demonstrators and armed men against a base of the international ISAF peacekeeping forces in Maymana in the northwest of Afghanistan.
     The ten Finnish soldiers inside were unhurt, but two Norwegians reportedly sustained mild injuries from stones, and and from hand grenade shrapnel.
     The base was surrounded by a group of between 200 and 300 "demonstrators" all day Tuesday. The action was led by a core group of about 30 men armed with hand guns and grenades.
     Petrol bombs were also used against the base, setting fire to one guard box. Some of the attackers managed to breach the high protective wall surrounding the installation.
     
The base, guarded by Norwegian soldiers, reportedly had 34 Norwegians, ten Finns, and five or six Swedes, as well as a few Latvians.
     In addition to the ten Finns at the base, a group of eight others were outside the city on another mission. The group waited for the situation to calm down before returning, said Major Kari Nisula in Kabul.
     Nisula could not say if the skirmish was directly related to the uproar sparked by the Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.
     The Norwegian soldiers repulsed the attackers with tear gas and stun grenades. The Finns were not involved in the defensive action.
     A regional official reported that three Afghanis died in the melee, but the exact circumstances were unclear. Major Nisula says that the Norwegian troops did not use deadly force against the attackers.
     Local police, and British-led ISAF rapid-deployment forces were used to disperse the protesters. A British representative emphasised to the BBC that the ISAF troops did not fire on the demonstrators at any time. The local police commander says that the police also did not shoot at the demonstrators.
     
The Finnish soldiers were transferred from the Afghan capital Kabul to Maymana in the autumn of 2004.
     Major Nisula says that the area has been quite calm until very recently. A few weeks ago, an armed group fired on a group of Afghan soldiers, with Finnish forces nearby. There were no injuries reported.
     The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation began under a United Nations mandate in 2002 a few months after the Taleban regime had been deposed. The purpose of the operation is to help the Afghan government stabilise the country. The operation came under NATO command in 2003.
     
ISAF includes 91 Finnish soldiers in three areas - most of them in Kabul. The Finns are a part of the Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) section, whose mission is to promote cooperation between soldiers and civilians. The Finnish group comprises soldiers and professionals representing different fields.
     Clashes have been reported in Afghanistan in recent days that have been linked with the Danish cartoon furore. In addition to Maymana, there were incidents in Herat, Jalalabad, and Kabul on Tuesday. Major Nisula says that the protests have so far not had a visible effect on the overall atmosphere in Kabul.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish peacekeepers come close to being ambushed in Afghanistan (26.1.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat