Infighting leads to insecurity in Baghlan

Some international staff working for relief agencies in the heart of the northern Afghan province of Baghlan have been evacuated following infighting between local commanders, an aid worker confirmed to IRIN on Thursday. "The fighting started with exchange from live weapons in the afternoon. Tanks and light artillery were brought in a few hours later," Eric Le Guen of the French NGO ACTED told IRIN from Pol-e Khomri, the capital of Baghlan province.

According to Le Guen, the trouble began when a former governor of the province from a non-Taliban independent faction, Said Jafar Nadeeri, tried to claim part of Pol-e Khomri. When Northern Alliance (NA) commanders refused the request, fighting erupted. Soon after the incident eyewitnesses said US bombs were dropped in the area.

"We think between one and three bombs were dropped on a mountain just 1 km away from our office," Le Guen said. "We left the office, which is next to the Northern Alliance barracks and made our way to our guesthouse on the outskirts of town," he added.

International staff from the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan stationed in Pol-e Khomri left for Kabul following the deterioration in security. Also working in the area is Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), however, it was unclear whether staff from the agency had also left the city.

While the situation in Pol-e Khomri was calm on Thursday, Le Guen described the province generally as remaining unstable. "It is very difficult to say what will happen," he stressed. Commanders from the Northern Alliance and the former governor were holding a second round of talks on Thursday. "We hope the issue will be resolved peacefully today," he added.

Pol-e Khomri is already home to thousands of displaced Afghans in need of humanitarian assistance. They were forced to flee neighbouring provinces due to fighting between the Taliban and Northern Alliance before the US-led air strikes began in October.